Industrial Development Quickening In India

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28128, 17 November 1956, Page 8

Industrial Development Quickening In India

Tremendous progress was being made in aviation in India, and today the India Airline Corporation—which provided the republic’s internal air services—flew more route miles a year than any domestic services, except those in the United States, said Mr H. S. Kaviratne. of Bangalore, in an interview in Christchurch. Air India, the overseas airline, ‘already had services as far as Sydney, and it might not be long before these were extended to New Zealand, he said.

Only a few days ago the Russian jet airliners, the Tupilov 104. flew from Moscow to Delhi in 61 hours—a distance of about 3200 some of the highest mountains in Asia. Mr Kaviratne is a 43-year-old executive with Hindustan Aircraft. a Government-owned aircraft factory which is building the Folland Gnat and an Indian-designed all-metal trainer. The staff at present is about 10.000. 7500 of whom are skilled and semi-skilled workers, and this will soon be increased by 4000.

Aluminium Sources

Bauxite, the source of aluminium—the most important metal in the aircraft industry—is found in India in sufficient quantities to last for generations; the iron ore is almost limitless; and most other metals are found in useful quantities. India was already manufacturing one small English car and eight other British and American models were part-assembled in India, said Mr Kaviratne. Three iron and steel mills were being built, one of them financed by Krupps. of Germany, and they were expected to be in production within three years. India also had one of the largest fertiliser factories in the world —the Sindi plant. Textiles, both cotton and wool, were important, but particularly cotton. India had recently imported stud sheep from Australia to establish a breed suitable for her conditions.

India’s greatest problem since independence had been the stabilisation of her population—birth ’ control had

full Government support—and selfsufficiency in food production. Before 1947, the country imported much of her food, but the latest figures showed considerable increases in all staple commodities and many minor ones. Her area of tobacco alone was 890,000 acres.

Much of this production was being assisted by foreign technicians from Britain, Europe and the United States, and overseas loans and aid, said Mr Kaviratne. India was also sending her own technicians abroad for training. A sign of these trends, he said, was that there were more British people working in India now than there were before partition—“and they are welcome. There is a very friendly attitude between Indians and the British.”