CIVILIAN PRODUCTION

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 283, 26 August 1944, Page 7

CIVILIAN PRODUCTION

Change-Over Plans In U.S. (Received August 24, 7 p.m. ) WASHINGTON, August 24. A plan for the conversion of 40 per cent, of the United States industrial facilities to civilian production after the defeat of Germany has been prepared under the direction of the War Production Board. „ The plan tentatively envisages first, the retention of the manpower regulations till the labour supply is sufficiently large to remove them —probably about three months after Germany’s defeat; secondly, the stripping of all possible Government controls except those necessary for the orderly -change from war to peacetime output. Cutbacks would be arranged to allow the maximum civilian production without interfering with war work. This may mean tbe release of entire companies or other production units from war work at one time rather than in gradual stages, thus permitting a more orderly return to peacetime production. The War Production Bo.ard chairman, Mr. Donald Nelson, told the Senate war investigating committee that the board estimated that over-all manpower requirements would decline by at least an additional 300,000 by the end of next year. “Even though Japan and Germany are still at war with us, and all the production schedules remain, the war plants do not need ' more than 100,000 of the 700,000 already released from the munitions industries. Millions still needed at war jobs should -be assured their civilian jobs will be available when the war production has eased up.” Mr. 'Nelson added that the present lag in artillery production was due to the belated recognition that air bombing could not take the place of shell fire, and that more guns had to be made. lie said that tremendously increased requirements recently had necessitated the sudden output of heavy artillery.