MINISTRY OF SUPPLY

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 November 1939, Page 8

MINISTRY OF SUPPLY

ENORMOUS COMMITMENTS

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

(Recd. Nov. 4, 11 a.m.). RUGBY, November 3. Since the outbreak of war, the Ministry of Supply had expended something like £110,000,000 in new commitments, said the Minister, Dr. E. L. Burgin, in a speech. Not a day passed without extensions—either _ new factories or additions to existing ones. Additional firms, small as well as large, were constantly being brought into the Ministry. He added: “I want every ounce oi real capacity there is in the country, and more. It is, therefore, a question of the best way to harness this willingness, which, undoubtedly, exists. It is of the greatest importance that we should place in the line, at the earliest possible moment, the greatest number of our own troops, fully and adequately equipped that it is possible for the country to achieve.” Referring to the lifting by the United States of the arms embargo, Dr. Burgin said they must review their own production and see those items of which they were short, and indent upon America for them. “I should say we should want machine tools and certain types of raw materials, and, ultimately, some ammunition. It is quite impossible to forecast the extent of the Allied requirements, but it is possible to say, with the arms embargo removed, that the Allied Governments are faced with an arsenal of unlimited resources should they wish to place orders with that arsenal.”