There were Optical Munitions and medical and surgical glass and X-ray tubes made entirely by women, and the Exhibitions record the progress of women in Munitions in the most wonderful and striking way.

Mr. Ben.  H. Morgan, Chief Officer, in a recent speech on Munitions and Production said: 

“Labor had to be found to staff the thousands of factories in which this stupendous production was to be carried out, and it has been possible to find it only by subdividing work closely, and entrusting a large variety of machinery and fitting to women, with the help of the fullest possible equipment of jigs and all available appliances for mechanically defining and facilitating the work, and of instruction by skilled men.  By this means an output has been obtained that will compare favorably with that of any class of workers in any country.  Comparing, for instance, our women’s figures of output on certain sizes of shell and types of fuses with those of men in the United States, I found recently that the women’s machining times were not only as good but in many cases better than those of men in some of the best organized American shops.

“This is an extraordinary result to have been obtained from women who, for the most part, had never known either the work or the discipline of factory life, and were wholly unused to mechanical operations.  More than one circumstance has doubtless contributed to making it possible; but it is my assured conviction that foremost among the incentives by which women have been helped has been their constant thought of their flesh and blood, their husbands, brothers, sons, sweethearts, in the trenches.  I know a typical example in a Yorkshire mother, who early in the war sent her only son to the fighting line.  The lad was a skilled mechanic, and she took his place at his lathe in the Leeds shops where he worked.  She is not only keeping this job going, but her output on the job she is doing is a record for the whole country.”

The women workers’ productions has been admirable and is steady and continues so.  The Manchester Guardian of November 15, 1915, astounded women and men alike by its announcement that “figures were produced in proof of the very startling assertion that the output of the women munition workers is slightly more than double that of men.”

In the latest Dilution of Labour Bulletin this is recorded: 

“A good beginning

“A firm in the London and South Eastern district making propellers for aeroplanes has recently begun the employment of women, and the results are exceeding all expectations.  As an instance it is reported that five women are now doing the work of scraping, formerly done by six men, with an increase of 70 per cent in output.”

The way in which managers, foremen and skilled men have trained and helped the women and work with them cannot be too highly praised—­the success of “dilution”—­the ability of women to help their country in this way, was only possible through the good will and co-operation of our great Trade Unions and skilled men.