INDIA'S PART

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23781, 8 October 1940, Page 8

INDIA'S PART

SUPPLIES FOR WAR ' VAST INDUSTRIAL PLANS MUNITIONS MANUFACTURE By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received October 7. (>.,'10 p.m.) British "Wireless LONDON, Oct. 0 Preparations are proceeding at Delhi for the meeting there of the Eastern Group Conference which opens shortly and which will be attended by representatives of New Zealand, Australia and the East African colonies. Tlieir chief task will be to take measures for the coordination of the war effort in their countries, with special reference to the position in the Near East. Meanwhile the British mission led by Sir Alexander .Roger lias arrived in India and lias commenced a tour, during which it will study the development of the munitions industry in India. Striking progress lias been made in this iield and the adaptation of plant to war needs is proceeding steadily. The manufacture of steel, buildings, engineering supplies, various types of weapons and ammunition is now being conducted by civil concerns in addition to Government factories. One railway workshop is being adapted for the manufacture of tanks and armoured cars. The manufacture of many medical supplies hitherto imported is being established, and proposals for the manufacture of aluminium are being considered. , In other directions India s vast resources are being drawn upon to assist the Empire's war effort. . During the last, six months, 1000 tons of tea has been supplied for the use of the Australian defence forces.' New demands for coal for the Middle East have been accepted and negotiations for increasing supplies of certain heavy hides have been successfully concluded. During the past fortnight, orders have included timber for Irak, the Middle East and Aden, engineering stores for tlic IMiddl© "textiles for Singapore and jute sacks for Egypt. An order for the construction of a number of small naval vessels is also being executed.