LONDON PLANTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 245, 15 October 1940, Page 7

LONDON PLANTS.

MODERN MIRACLES.

Factories Working Again 24

Hours After Attacks.

British OSclal Wlrelriw.

(Reed. 11.30 a.m.)

RUC.BY, Oct. 14.

Tho speed with which factories in tho London area that have been bombed by German aircraft have been reorganised for production, is illustrated in a speech at Liucoln to-day by Sir Cecil Weir, executive member of the Export Council of the Board of Trade.

Speaking of a London tour where he visited plants, sonic of which had Iwcn struck as frequently a* eight times by every ty|>e of honili. Sir Cecil Mid: "One would have expected disorganization, chaos and confusion.

"Instead one found an extraordinary degree of normal production, and, in otic of tho worst cakes, the drop in production, a large part of which was going for export, waa |c»s than 30 per cent, and the managing director assured me that within another week or two they would bo fully up to the usual output*

"Another manufacturer allowed me photographs of his damaged factory, which had been struck in « vital spot by a 15001b bomb. In another vital spot it had been blasted by a land mine.

"When the manager looked at the damage the day after the attack his foreman aaid, 'How long do you think it will be before we can get going?' and he replied optimistically, 'About a month.' In actual fact the plant was operating within 24 hours.

"He lost 30 per cent production in the first week. 20 per cent in the second, and in the third he was producing the full output, which was much more than was manufactured in pre-war da vs."