World Offensive Britain's Aim

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 196, 19 August 1940, Page 8

World Offensive Britain's Aim

WHEN MOMENT GOMES

Amazing Recovery After Starting Far Behind Scratch

(British Official Wireless.—Rec. noon.)

RUGBY, August 18

"1 can assure you that those responsible for equipping Britain's forces are not stopping at the thought of defence," said Mr. Herbert Morrison, Minister of Supply, in a speech in London.

"The ground pdan for our future production activity is drawn on the assumption that our task will be a world offensive when the moment comes. Once the immediate peril of these next few days or weeks has passed we shall all be able to look forward to a steadily mounting tally of armed might and striking power.

Three months ago the position was serious—indeed grave. Not only were we called upon with alarming suddenness to face the consequences of years of small-scale planning and small-scale thinking, but we had lost in Flanders a great part.of the equipment we had built up. Britain at that moment was in great peril.

"My mind is filled with thankfulness at the transformation that has taken place between that time and the present. Ido not say everything is perfect to-day. We started far behind scratch and we have not yet made up arrears, and our position, is not yet fully satisfactory, but we have put into the hands of our army weapons sufficient to enable it to perform its immediate task successfully, even if the call should come to-night.

"Some part of this has been accomplished through tste help of American friends, who drew freely upon jheir reserves of weapons and ammunition that we -might be able to fill certain immediate dangerous gaps. But the great part was due to the outstanding achievement of British industry and British workers."

Mr. Morrison surveyed the raw materials position, showing their extent since the Government undertook control in order to ensure adequate supplies, proper apportionment and fair prices. In the case of many metals and wool, the Ministry had brought the whole or nearly the whole output of the entire countries. . Referring particularly to planned economy represented by raw material control, Mr. Morrison said: "We must not get into the way of thinking that all forms of war organisation are temporary or mere necessary evils. "Many represent real advances: We all want to see a better Britain emerge from the fires of war. We want to see inequalities toned , down or removed, unfair privileges'abolished; the threat of avoidable hardship or insecurity taken away, opportunities given all for a fuller, freer and more creative existence."