BRITISH INDUSTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 7 August 1945, Page 3

BRITISH INDUSTRY

SWITCHOVER TO CIVILIAN NEEDS GOOD PROGRESS BEING MADE Rugby, Aug. 5. Although it is l,ess than three months since VE-Day, British industry has already made considerable progress in reorganisation on to a peacetime basis. The switchover from production of war material to civilian goods is necessarily hampered by claims of the Far Eastern war—tq which all peacetime production must be subordinated—and consequent shortages of labour and raw materials. These, however, are only temporary obstacles. Thanks to many wartime advances and scientific research, technical developments, and industrial efficiency British industry to-day is in a far more powerful position than ever before to supply the vast world needs of every type of consumer goods. Examples can be found in every sphere of production. Thus, the immense wartime output achieved by United Kingdom motor car manufacturers resulted in full mechanisation of no less than 80 per cent, of the United Kingdom and Imperial forces in Europe. The tremendous technical advances and enhanced knowledge of volume production which made it possible will all be applied to peacetime manufacture. The main British scientists who developed anti-malarial and DDT powder have found for it an important peacetime use—that of making clothes permanently mothproof. This development extends to the smallest consumption articles. A new fountain pen just announced, which needs filling only once a year, was invented by a military company for the use of pilots flying at heights where low air pressure would explode ordinary fountain pens. The steel industry is making extensive preparations to deal with an avalanche of orders from all parts of the world, in particular the Far and Middle East, South Africa, and South America. Building and mobilisation work carried out by one firm alone is expected to increase the pre-war capacity threefold. Tyneside, an important centre of heavy industries and shipbuilding, expects at least five years’ full activity after the complete switch-over to peacetime production has been made. Although most of the shipyards are still busy on naval orders a start has already been made on the construction of passenger and cargo liners. One well-known firm of shipbuilders is building fqur cargo vessels for the Canadian-Pacific railway. Another company has received orders from the Royal Mail Company for a cargo motor ship of 10,000 tons. Another shipbuilding company has already launched the first of two whaling factories it has under construction, and will shortly begin work on a third, John Brown, of Clydebank, has a trans-Atlantic liner—a sister ship to the Mauretania—on its immediate- construction list. * SPINNING MILLS RE-OPENED The cotton industry which was severely restrained during the war is now being expanded to pre-war capacity. Early last month the reopening of 11 spinning mills was announced. Every step is being taken to speed the return of operatives from war munitions to cotton mills in order to meet the enormous demand of all kinds of textile goods. Although motor car production in tne United Kingdom is subordinated to the requirements of the Japanese war factories are producing cars at far higher speeds than was anticipated. Exports have already begun. One firm alone hopes to export more than £4,000,000 worth of motor cars before the end of the year. On e important wartime innovation which will help in the rapid expan?J. 0n British peacetime Output is the Government “shadow factory” scheme. The modern and highly mechanised factories set up by the Government for the production of arras and munitions are now being taken over for the manufacture of civilian goods. In Wales there are 60 of these Govefmment factories employing some 150,000 workers which are switching over to the manufacture of such goods as toys, textiles aluminium goods and electrical eqjipmenf.