And the Government encouraged them in that view, because, to speak quite plainly, it was a matter of life and death to the country to have in the Crisis of a War a Great Body of skilled 908 workmen, on whose services the nation might count, as it counted on the services of its Blue-jackets and Marines.

He said:— "The shipwrights of the dockyards appreciate being Government workmen, and the Government encourage them in that view, because, to speak quite plainly, it is a matter of life and death to the country to have in the Crisis of a War a Great Body of skilled workmen on whose services the nation may count as it counts on the services of its Bluejackets and Marines".