§ The cost of shipbuilding has been increased in the past, and the progress of the work upon new construction much interfered with, by the practice that had grown up of taking hands off new ships or large repairs for casual work as it arose, or for dealing with any temporary emergency. The number of men employed in advancing new construction and large repairs has thus been subjected to all kinds of fluctuations. The system obviously interferes with progress, with methodical arrangement of work, and with cost.
§ During 1887–88 large reductions (about 2,000 in all), through discharges, deaths, superannuations, &c.) have been made in the Dockyards, and these reductions have caused such hardship in the Dockyard Towns that I did not think it advisable to discharge, in addition, the full numbers that might have been spared in every case, during temporary slackness of casual work. Temporary relief has been afforded, whenever possible, by employing redundant men upon work extra to the Programme, when such work was proved to be necessary. The policy pursued during 1887–88 has been to discharge redundant hands as gradually as possible, and bring down the number upon the books to what is required as an average for the work of the year.
§ Now that the numbers have been reduced to a fair average for 1888–89, it has been, decided to work, in future, upon the principle of keeping a proper number of hands upon new ships without interruption, and not to take them off whenever casual work or cases of emergency arise.
§ Instructions have just been sent to the Superintendents to avoid such changes of employment of men as much as possible, in future, and to enter and discharge men as required for casual work when such men are not available in the Dockyard without disturbing the building programme. This class of entry is to be recognized as casual and temporary only, and this will be made clear to the men when entered.