WAR INDUSTRY

Grey River Argus, 3 August 1940, Page 7

WAR INDUSTRY

BRITISH ADVISERS Boards in Twelve Areas LATEST BRITISH INNOVATION. (Received August 2, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, August 1- , In explaining the Government’s new plan s for the fullest employment of the industrial capacity of the country in meeting war requirements, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply, Mr. H. MacMillan, described the structure and functions of the new area boards set up. There are twelve Area Boards. Each of these has representatives of local industry, three employers and three trade unionists, and also five official members representing each of the Departments mainly concerned, namely, supply, aircraft production, labour, Admiralty, and Board of Trade. The chairman and vice-chairman are representative either of employers or trade unionists. In three instances a trade unionist is chairman. Mr. MacMillan said: “The new boards have an extremely important function, employing their own knowledge of local industry to ensure that its capacity is fully employed, or, if it cannot be employed as it stands, that its labour and plant are transferred to points where they can be used. The board will also be available to advise contractors where they can best place, sub-contracts. One of the board’s duties will be to carry out a complete inspection of machine tools, following the Ministry of Supply s recent census of machine tool wolfing hours. The boards will be concerned with the allocation of the capacity in their districts as between th e requirements of different Government supply departments, and wifi be able to give advice when priority questions arise. The boards will also act as controllers of war production in their areas, if communications break down.” 12 Supply Ministers Now EACH AT A KEY POINT. (Received August 2, 9.0 p.m.). LONDON, August 2. The “Daily. Herald" says: Henceforth thirteen Ministries of Supply, instead of one. will direct munitions production. Twelve junior Supply Ministers are being stationed at key points in the industrial districts, and, they will immediately take over the. active control of important features of production from the parent Ministry. This establishment of a chain or directing organisation is the mam feature of Mr Morrison’s plans for making full use of industrial capacity. In effect, the detailed supervision of output, plant, and manpower is being transferred from Whitehall to the workshops.