MACARTHUR'S NEEDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 96, 24 April 1942, Page 5

MACARTHUR'S NEEDS

JOLT TO AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY

(By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright.) CANBERRA, April 23. General Mac Arthur has just made known to the Federal Government his minimum demand in front-line soldiers to conduct his offensive against the Japanese. Industrial leaders have been apprised * of the request which, interpreted in terms of the new industrial needs, means that within six weeks or two months 50,000 more workers must be withdrawn from non-essen-tial industries and placed in war industries. Thus nearly 70 per cent, of industrial concerns which have been functioning successfully for years are likely to disappear wholly or partially. ■ Officers of the Department of War Organisation of Industry admitted that the effects of this change-over may come as a shock to the nation, but they believe the public will take it. Their investigations have revealed that vast economies in man-power and materials can be effected by rationalisation. It is intended to pass_tp the public the savings in cost of production that will be achieved. Everything, in fact, is to be subordinated to the needs of essential industries and of the fighting forces. For example, the Government's plan visualises reducing patent medicines to about 30 standardised lines, reducing about 30 types of bread to four, the manufacture of soap and tooth-paste in one factory, the limitation of sweets to 10 varieties, the elimination of all fancy wrappings, and the zoning of food supplies.