WAR PRODUCTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 19, 23 January 1943, Page 6

WAR PRODUCTION

"AMAZING INCREASES"

SURVEY BY MINISTER

"The amazing increases in war production that have taken place during the war years is an adequate answer to the people so anxious to score any kind of a point against the Government," said the Minister of Supply (Mr. Sullivan) in Christchurch last night when he replied to the "critical references made by various anti-Government candidates on the general charge that the Government had made too heavy military commitments to the detriment of production." "Here are a few facts," said Mr. Sullivan. "The production of small arms ammunition increased from 12.000,000 rounds in 1939 to more than 65,000.000 rounds in 1942, and will probably reach 100.000.000 rounds in 1943. We produced no hand grenades in 1939. In 1940 we produced 15,000 hand grenades; in 1941 the number produced was 166,047, and in 1942 the number increased to 1,187,028. We are producing more millions this year both for the New Zealand Army and for overseas Allies. . The number of universal carriers produced in 1940 was nil; in 1941 we produced 46, and in 1942 683. We are now filling orders for overseas. Other figures are mortars, 1940 nil, 1941 150, 1942 190; Charl* ton automatic rifles, 1941 nil, 1942 669; small arms ammunition charger cups, 1941 660,000. 1942 5,140,000. "We have also produced huge numbers of water bottles, rifle grenade dischargers, fuses for mortar bombs, mortar bomb cartridges, to mention only a fraction of the list of munitions produced, and in process of production The tonnage of coal mined was 2.618.122 in 19411 and in 1942 2,665,192. Timber carried on the railways in 1941 was 383.079 tons, and in 1942 451.480 tons. PRIORITY TO ARMED FORCES. "In any case, the Government's critics would have been much more critical—and with justification—had we not given priority to the armed forces of the country in the hour of crisis, when the Japanese were sweeping all before them in the Pacific, and when no man could say when the Japanese might be attempting an invasion of this country," said Mr. Sullivan. "There can be no two questions about that. "The Government's first duty was to the armed forces to give them all the support possible so that they would have a fighting chance to defend the shores and protect the people' of the country. Any argument to the contrary is nonsense. But conceding the -point that supplies being necessary to the sustenance of the Army and that a rational balance should be maintained between Army and industry even in crisis, I repeat that the amazing increase in production during the war years is evidence of the fact that the Government definitely did not starve industry of man-power, even though the man-power problem was an acute one." CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR, AND FOOD. Other figures of production quoted by the Minister were:— Woollen Mills (Military Contracts). Blankets, pair, 1939, 25.238; 1940. 125.378: 1941. 132,352; 1942, 205,764. Flannel material, yards, 1939, 223.9(59; 1940 603.803; 1941. 751.543; 1942, 1,096.004. Hose, pairs, 1939. 100,274; 1940. 580,817; 1941 729.135: 1942,. 883.161. Vests, woollen. 1939. 53,452; 1940, 183.881: 1941, 202,420; 1942. 311,304. Shorts, woollen. 1939, 53,200; 1940, 163.985: 1941, 202.518; 1942, 344,688. Greatcoats, yards, 1939, 57.356; 1940. i 56.740: 1941, 409.458; 1942, 507.181. Tunic cloths, yards, 1939, 80.479; 1940. 583,803; 1941, 774.665;, 1942, 1,332.880. Jerseys, 1939, 1,080; 1940, 29,613: 1941. ; 105,157; 1942, 206,016. . Pullovers. 1939, ; 1940, 2000; 1941. 4140. 1942. 4970. | Clothing Factories (Military Contracts). Jackets, woollen, 1939, nil; 1940, 124,747: 1941, 218,170; 1942, 359,<J04. / Trousers, woollen, 1939, nil; 1940, 166,922: 1941, 231,722; 1942, 370,269. Jackets, khaki drill, 1939, nil; 1940, 84,538: 1941. 83,340; 1942. 67,632. Shorts, khaki drill, 1939, uil; 1940, nil; 1941. 77,508; 1942, 54.174, Coats, woollen. 1939. nil; 1940, 69,415; 1941. 108,373; 1942, 160,639. Caps, woollen, 1939, nil: 1940, 66.798; 1941. 167,642; 1942, 323,168. Overalls, cotton, 1939, nil; 1940, nil; 1941, 10,680; 1942, 21,347. Boot and Shoe Factories (Military Contracts). Boots, expori, 1939, nil; 1940, nil; 1941, nil; 1942, 508,388. • Boots, local, 1939, 45,902*; 1940, 275.753; : 1941, 14,323, 1942, 313,251. ; Shoes, leather, local, 1939, nil; 1940, 9827: 1941, 302.170; 1942, 30.885. Shoes, canvas, local, 1939, nil; 1940, 1698; 1941, 20,197; 1942, 32,196. : Sandals, 1939, nil; 1940, 1995; 1941, 147,187; 1 1942. 54.628. Foodstuffs (Imperial Government). Biscuits, tons (a week), 1939, nil; 1940. nil; 1941, 5844; 1942, 12.993. : Oatmeal, 1939, nil; 1940, nil; 1941, 236G; 1942, 3799. ! Meat and vegetables, ration tons, 1939, nil; 1940, nil; 1941, 979; 1942, 4153. ' Sausages, tons, 1939, nil; 1940, nil; 1941, 348; 1942, 232. Pickles, 1939, nil; 1940, nil; 1941, 69; 1942, 552. "Three months. SHIPS FOR NAVY AND AIR FORCE. Mr. Sullivan also referred to the , development in shipbuilding during t the war period in the production of j ( minesweepers, Fairmiles, and other! types of the smaller naval vessels. ■ Three composite minesweepers had j . been launched and were now in com- ] • mission. Fourteen minesweepers of the ! Wakakura class were on the programme, and some had been launched: . Twelve Fairmile patrol vessels for I offensive duty were under construction ; and four were already afloat. Crash boats for the Air Force, barges for Navy requirements, and similar craft for service in Pacific waters north of i New Zealand had also been constructi cd. Other military lines had been pro- , duced for the Dominion's requirements > and for the Allies. "We have carried out all this military production as well as meeting the essential needs of the civilian popu- ! lation," said Mr. Sullivan. "It should be obvious to even the ' most prejudiced among the Government's critics, as well as to the fairminded, public, that- our manufacturers and workers, who are worthy of all credit for the manner in which they have faced the gigantic task given them by the Government, could not have accomplished this task had industry been starved of man -power. It is worthy deeds and not idle words that count in war even more than in peace."