PROBLEMS OF SUPPLY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 125, 29 May 1941, Page 10

PROBLEMS OF SUPPLY

COUNCIL SET UP

NEEDS OF ARMED FORCES

PLANNING AHEAD

The Minister of Supply and Munitions (Mr. Sullivan) announced today that the War Cabinet had authorised him to estab- . lish immediately a Supply Council. The functions cf the Council had been drafted to include the centralising of all orders for the requirements cf the armed forces, j the control of such commodities as j may be needed for defence pur- jjposes, the responsibility of deciding j priorities in regard to defence sup- ] plies, and in regard to shipping, j The Council was also authorised to deal with possible economies and substitution in our present con- ; sumption and with the reclamation and utilisation of waste. The j matter of requisitioning or com- j inandeering supplies required for | defence purposes would also be a \ function of the Council. \ Mr. Sullivan also stated that the; Suppiy Council would exercise func-, tions which were envisaged when the : amendment to the Supply Control Emergency Regulations was gazetted in June last year, namely, to advise the Minister as to any matters referred to it by him affecting production or supply to the extent that they impinge on defence needs. THE SUPPLY POSITION. "As most people are aware." stated Mr. Sullivan, "the supply position is steadily depreciating through shipping difficulties and due" to the increasing control of exports in the country of their origin; particularly does the latter apply to America. "Major problems of supply and pjroduction are now coming to a head and the increasing requests being received from the Empire overseas for New Zealand to produce \nd export foodstuffs, clothing, and munitions will mean a thorough stocktaking of our maximum capacity to produce, and of our minimum domestic requirement. "In certain directions it already appears that some reduction or substitution in our own consumption will be necessary if we are to give of our best to the greatest possible extent to assist the Empire's war effort. The i Armed Forces are today calling upon local manufacturers more and more in 1 an endeavour to satisfy the demand for ! essential supplies which either cannot be obtained overseas or for which only delayed deliveries can be promised." It is the intention of the Minister to utilise the Supply Council in the solution of these problems and in the coordination of all activities affecting the requirements of the three armed services. One of the main functions of the council will be to plan ahead so that production can be initiated or orders placed overseas at an early date for supplies which will be needed next year. PERSONNEL OF COUNCIL. The Minister stated that these important and responsible functions had been placed upon a very small body,