The men who approached the Chancellor of the Exchequer put
forward a purely business proposition. The Government say that they must have supplies of the munitions of war at the very quickest rate which it is humanly possible to produce them. They want every ounce of material they can get, and they want it now. In effect the shipbuilders reply : "If that is what you want, you must strike down the great obstacle to quick and efficient work—the lure of drink. Patriotism, a man's desire to do his share in turning out the ships and shells which we need to beat the Germans, the longing for high wages, all urge the man to the workshop and stimulate him while he is there to do his best work. But outside the work- shop site the Delilah of drink and robe him of his strength. In too many cases more wages mean more whisky, and more whisky means less work."
