GERMAN PRODUCTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24783, 6 December 1941, Page 9

GERMAN PRODUCTION

MANY DIFFICULTIES SHORTAGE OF SKILLED LABOUR (Rec. 9 p.m.) ■ RUGBY, Dec. 4. German production difficulties are the subject of articles in European newspapers recently received in London. The Stockholm newspaper Arbetaren says that as early as 1940 the general manager of a famous concern declared that a pause was hecessary in the industrial tempo, but as such pause had been impossible deterioration was inevitable.

One of Germany's greatest problems, says the' 1 - Arbetaren, is that of skilled labour. "German war economists calculated that 2,000.000 marks would be required to replace and service the fleet of 10.000 aeroplanes. Just before the war the German aircraft industry emn ployed 400,000 men, and since then this figure had certainly been doubled, but it will apparently have to be multiplied fivefold if the air force is to maintain its strength.'' The Arbetaren also considers the oil position critical, because Germany and her allies can produce a maximum of 1,000,000 tons annually when 1,500,000 tons are needed on the eastern front, beside 500,000 tons for industry. According to this calculation, therefore, the Axis is using twice as much oil as she produces. The newspaper does not give an opinion on how long this situation can continue, but it is belieyed in competent official quarters in London that Germany's oil situation wfll be critical before next summer at the latest unless Germany can either completely defeat Russia or acquire oilfields in the Middle East.