BRITAIN’S PRODUCTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 April 1943, Page 5

BRITAIN’S PRODUCTION

REMARKABJ.E INCREASE

MINISTER’S ANNOUNCEMENT

RUGBY, April 2. More than four times more heavy bombers were produced in February in Britain than in February last year, said Mr. Oliver Lyttelton, Minister of Production, to-day. He added that in the last quarter of 1942 the “structure weight” of aircraft produced was about seventy-five per cent, higher than the average quarterly production in 1941. Bv the fourth quarter of 1942. the rate of output of all weapons, ammunition and warlike stores was double the average rate in. 1941. About one-third of British production is now of weapons which did not exist except in the imagination of their inventors, when war broke out. Others were coming on, and being developed all the time. These were our secret weapons. , . Mr. Lyttelton said that despite increasing difficulties, arising from further demand of services for manpower from factories and slipways, and the present necessity to conserve raw materials in order to save shipping space for' military use, the increase continued into the present year. Our output of munitions of all sorts m February was about forty per cent, greater than in February 1942, and was still expanding. This increased output was largely achieved, by (1) developments by scientists and industrial engineers (2) increased efficiency of labour; (3) increased efficiency ol management. , , Mr. Lyttelton said it could be predicted without much danger that the days of desert warfare were numbered, and we must look forward to 'fighting in enclosed country, with roads, river and railways.