Colonel COLLINSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the output of new mercantile tonnage which the Admiralty at the beginning of 1918 estimated would be launched in each of the first six months of this year?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe Admiralty did not estimate the output of mercantile tonnage for individual months, that period being considered too short for a reliable estimate.
The quarterly estimates were as follow:
The facts which affected the output in January and February are well known and have been fully discussed. The enormous and increasing amount of repair work which absorbs a large proportion of skilled labour must, of course, also be taken into account.
1st quarter 425,000 gross tons 2nd quarter 445,000 gross tons Realisation. 1st quarter gross tons 320,280 gross tons 2nd quarter 442,966 gross tons