WORK TO CEASE ON NEW BATTLESHIPS.

ADMIRALTY ORDER.

We are officially informed by the Admiralty that letters have been despatched to the firms engaged upon the construction of the four new vessels of the super-hood type, directing them not to incur any further liabilities on new construction until they receive further instructions from their lordships.

It was stated yesterday that the Admiralty decision means that the firms will carry on that portion of the work for which intermediate commitments have up to now been made, and for which alone the Admiralty are financially responsible. The order does not necessarily mean immediate cessation on the work of the new battlecruisers, but it certainly protends cessation in the near future.

Inquiries made in London yesterday show that, so far as the position of labour is concerned, the immediate effect of the suspension of the contracts will not be considerable. It was pointed out by the representative of a shipbuilding organisation that, although a considerable amount of preparatory work in the way of designing and other important features had been in progress since the contracts were placed, the keels of the ships had not been laid, and in consequence there had been, as yet, but little employment of additional labour at the yards. The question of providing alternative labour was one for the consideration of individual firms, and it was not possible to state what steps would be taken in that direction.

This view was home out by an official of the Amalgamated Engineers’ Union, who pointed out that the suspension of the Clyde contracts did not necessarily mean that a large number of men would be thrown out of employment. What it did mean was a delay of employment of a large body of men who were at present out of work, and were anticipating jobs on the ships when the construction had advanced to a point when their labour would be required.

The Government programme, as announced in the House of Commons recently, provided for the building of four capital ships, at an approximate cost of £30,000,000. The contracts were given to: Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co. Ltd., Govan, Glasgow; Messrs. John Brown and Co. Ltd., Clyde-bank, Glasgow; Messrs. Swan, Hunter, and Wigham Richardson Ltd., Newcastle-on-tyne (machinery by Messrs. Parsons’ Marine Steam Turbine Co. Ltd., Newcastle-on-tyne); Messrs. Beardmore and Co. Ltd., Dalmuir, Glasgow (machinery by Messrs. Vickers Ltd., Barrow).

It was expected that some 5,000 men would be employed on the contracts in the shipyards, engine works, and steel works during the next two months, and that in the New Year this would increase up to about 25,000 men. No estimate could be given as to the number of men for whom employment would be found in mines, transport, &c., it was stated, but the number so employed would be considerable. The number of firms that would be interested to a greater or lesser extent was in the neighbourhood of 500. It is estimated that of the total cost of the ships £22,500,000 would represent wages.