THIN TIME AHEAD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20824, 1 July 1942, Page 3

THIN TIME AHEAD

AMERICAN CONSUMERS RATIONING PROBABLE WAR "OUTPUT BRIGHT (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (10 a.m.) WASHINGTON, July 30. The outlook for war production is bright but the consumers’ horoscope indicates a thin time, two of America’s leading experts on the war programme warned the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee to-day. Mr. Donald Nelson, chairman of the War Production Board, said that America would meet President Roosevelt’s goal of 18,000,000 tons of shipping if steel plates were available and 125,000 planes if the present co-ordination of supply and production were maintained. Mr. Nelson said the outlook for the consumers was very bad, with the curtailment of everything except essential food and clothing. Mr. Leon Henderson, the Price Administrator, echoed Mr. Nelson’s views. He said that general rationing was in prospect before the war was won. Mr. Henderson pointed out that it would be folly to name the items that might be rationed as it would thereby cause a rush on existing stocks. Mr. Henderson said he feared the present price ceiling would not hold. At least 15 major items would be rationed shortly.