PLANNING OF PRODUCTION

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23915, 6 April 1943, Page 4

PLANNING OF PRODUCTION

DOMINION’S CLAIM ON ,U.S. MATERIALS REQUIREMENTS TO END OF 1944 TO BE SHOWN Combined planning and production arrangements between the United Kingdom and the United States make it necessary for New Zealand, as a claimant, to submit forward programmes showing requirements up to the end of 1944, the programmes to be used by the War Production Board for planning production and J na '£ in ij allocations on the basis of the best strategic use of materials for the Allied war effort. ... , , . . „ This is emphasised in a statement by the Hon. D. A. Sullivan (Minister of Supply) appealing to manufacturers and importers, because of the ‘‘lncreasing tempo of arrangements,” to meet promptly any requests for information on forward programme requirements from overseas sources. “Manufacturers and importers, said the Minister, “will be aware of the measures adopted in London and_ Wasnington to combine raw material resources of the United Nations by means of combined boards, which will not only plan the use of strategic materials, but will control production in both countries and allocate products according to the essential needs of all the United Nations. “The latest phase in this war-time development is the recently announced Controlled Materials Plan, instituted by the War Production Board, Washington,” said Mr Sullivan. “The plan is a production measure partially replacing the former system of manufacturing priorities, and is designed to adjust .production programmes to conform to materials supply, and allot certain materials to different United States Government agencies, representing all military and essential civilian requirements. Allotments of Materials

“These authorities in the United States will subdivide their allotments of materials amongst their contractors, and they again subdivide amongst their suppliers and so on, until all manufacturers have received their appropriate shares. Each manufacturer receiving an authorised order or authorised delivery schedule for his production. will receive an allotment of the materials which he and his subcontractors will require to fill the order. Such allotments are obtained by manufacturers from the United States Government agencies to which products are sold or from the appropriate industry branch of the War Production Board for certain classes of products as listed in the plan. The controlled materials which will be allotted initially under the plan, are carbon steel, alloy steel, copper, and aluminium.

“New Zealand’s part in this scheme is in the nature of a claimant to goods and materials produced under the plan as outlined. Our immediate task is to provide all necessary information as to our forward requirements, so that they may be taken into consideration along with the requirements of other countries. Dominion's Essential Needs

“New Zealand as a claimant on United States production must submit forward programmes showing her requirements up to the end of 1944. These programmes will be used by the War Production Board for planning production, and for making allocations on a basis that has regard to the best strategic use of materials for the Allied war effort. The effect of an allocation is that we will be placed in a position where our essential requirements may be secured, in spite of the growing demands by all the United Nations on American production. It is extremely important therefore, that New Zealand programmes be completed as speedily and accurately as possible. “Already the Ministry possesses information sufficient to programme some of the country’s requirements, and is .currently engaged in meeting immediate requests from Washington in terms of a standard classified list prepared for general use by the War Production Board. However, the task of completing the detailed schedule of New Zealand’s needs requires the cooperation of manufacturers and importers generally, and to the extent that information is sought by the Ministry, it is hoped that all persons approached will afford the required information.”

“I realise," said the Minister, “that manufacturers and traders are shouldering a heavy burden in contending with the preparation of detailed information at a time when they are preoccupied with maintaining local production. However, it is clear that an adequate share in overseas production is the governing factor in sustaining New Zealand’s industrial war effort. and that the better equipped we are to comply with requests from the United Slates of America for forward programmes, the more confidently we may expect successful procurement of the necessary supplies of vital materials. “I therefore, ask all manufacturers and traders to meet the request for programme information, and hope that the Ministry will be afforded all possible assistance. Such assistance is indispensable if we are to be in a position to submit the facts that will determine New Zealand’s allocation of urgently needed material.”