WAR INDUSTRIES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 86, 22 January 1942, Page 6

WAR INDUSTRIES

CHANGES IN UNITED STATES. DISPLACEMENT OF EMPLOYEES. PLAN FOR INSURANCE. / (United Press Association —Copyright.) (Rec. 10.55.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 21. President Roosevelt, in a letter u> the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Mr 'S'. Rayburn) asked for an emergency appropriation of 300,000,000 dollars to relieve unemployment caused by tne conversion oi industrial plants to war production anti drastic curtailment of civilian consumption. Mr Roosevelt said that thousands thrown out of work would eventually be absorbed into war industries and in the meantime there would be widespread distress unless the Government takes appropriate action. He was convinced the best solution would be a uniform national system of unemployment insurance, such system to be financed by contributions from payrolls. However, such legislation would take m#re time than file present emergency would permit, therefore he recommended a special supplementary appropriation to extend the protection now afforded so that employees at present uninsured would be afforded protection. Mr Roosevelt recommended that displaced employees receive weekly benefits of approximately 60 per cent, of their wages hut not exceeding 24 dollars a "week for six months. FI AN FOR REORGANISATION. APPROVAL BY PRESIDENT. (Rec. 10.) WASHINGTON, Jam 21. According to the United Press, Mr Donald Nelson, head of the War Production Board, said that President Roosevelt approved the plan for reorganisation of the war production “setup.” Mr Nelson conferred at length with Mr Roosevelt and later said that his plan had been approved and details would be annoipiced to-morrow. Asked whether the plan involved the whole organisation Mr Nelson replied: “Well it is streamlined to get action.” The 40-hour week in Government Departments has been swept aside to meet the gigantic task of winning the war. The average workweek is now 44 hours, with several departments, including the Army and lVavy, working longer shifts. PRODUCTION TO BE STOPPED.

PASSENGER CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS. (Rec. 10.4 a.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 20. Mr Nelson Las ordered the production of passenger automobiles and light trucks, either for civilian, military or export purposes, to be stopped on February 1 regardless of existing contracts. He said that all the foreseeable military demand would be satisfied from stock piles of new cars which, the Government. recently had ordered to be held in dealers’ storage until next-year, plus production in January. The passenger car quota of the Industry for January was 20,484 wafts, and the light truck quota 24,169 units. At the time the sales of automobiles were stopped it was estimated that dealers had about 450,000 new* passenger automobiles and about 38,000 light trucks in hand.