BIG INCREASE IN SUPPLIES

Southland Times, Issue 24165, 29 June 1940, Page 5

BIG INCREASE IN SUPPLIES

Munition Production In Britain

GREAT ADVANCE IN RECENT MONTHS’

(British Official Wireless) RUGBY, June 27.

The Minister of Supply (Mr Herbert Morrison), speaking before the House of Commons went into secret session, gave an account of his seven weeks’ effort on a task “of great vital importance to the nation, indeed to the world.”

He reported on representative figures of increased output, which he described as encouraging, if not yet wholly satisfactory. The supply situation, however, was coming nearer and nearer the point of satisfaction each ‘Tn giving the House information about progress and production,' I cannot and should not give figures and specific items of production,” Mr Morrison said. “I am going to give the House some percentages covering the short period which has occurred since critical days came upon us. These figures will indicate the increase in the monthly rate of production of June over April, which is the very short period of two months.

TANKS AND GUNS ' “The increase in output of cruiser and infantry, tanks in June, compared with April, was 115 per cent.—more than double. The increase in carriers was 64 per cent. Coming to a wide range of guns, the increase varies from about 50 per cent, for two items to as much as 228 per cent, for another. Small arms show increases ranging between 40 and 186 per cent. Ammunition of various kinds show increases in June, compared with April, ranging between 35 and 420 per cent.” Giving another example of the spurt in production, the Minister said: “On June 19, only a week ago, I gave orders for very large quantities —millions —of a certain weapon. Already the output has reached nearly 250,000 weekly, which is between four and five times the previous production. That output will grow.” These results, Mr Morrison said, were due to the magnificent response of the work people and managements to the Government’s appeals, and also to the news from France of Herr Hitler s successes. Discussing the policy of his. department, he pointed out that in many cases, where in his judgment a fundamental reorganization of production was necessary, it was not possible to undertake it without endangering the continuity of output. In two cases, however, the fundamental reorganization had been effected—for tanks and for machine tools. SIMPLIFICATION OF DESIGN The Minister explained the principles of simplification of design and concentration of output on which, at the desire of the Secretary for War (Mr R. A. Eden) and himself, the new Tank Board was working. Turning to the situation in raw materials, Mr Morrison said that it cculd broadly be described as satisfactory. Big orders recently had been placed in America and elsewhere. He had given instructions that it was better to be on the safe side and have too much rather than too little, for they had to face the possibility of a siege. Machine tools were coming into the country from abroad at a rate of £150,000 a month. Referring to imports of munitions from the Empire and the United States, Mr Morrison said that with their growing needs they had to get the maximum possible from abroad. There was a comprehensive programme for purchases abroad. Orders totalling £5,000,000 had been placed in Canada in the last few weeks. Australia was sending immediately small arms ammunition, bombs, shells and fuses, and all the available capacity of India was being taken up. The requirements from America fell into two classes. They included field glasses, Thomson guns, magazines and ammunition, together with rifles and machine-guns. They were obtaining these with all possible speed and with the ready cooperation of the American authorities.

RESTORATION WORK IN FRANCE GENERAL DENAIN TO BE COMMISSIONER (Received June 28, 7.30 p.m.) RUGBY, June 27. The Swiss radio says that General Denain, a former Chief of the General Staff and Minister of Air, has been appointed Commissioner for the restoration of France. He will deal with problems of traffic, the repatriation of refugees, administrative reconstruction and also the demobilization of the Army. The San Sebastian correspondent of The Daily Mail says Dr Goebbels has taken over the French Press. The newspapers are attacking Britain and praising Germany. According to reports coming across the frontier restaurants in France are reopening. There is a good supply of food except milk. The streets are thronged with German tanks and armoured cars, though buses and cars are not operating. Germans in civilian dress arrived at Biarritz and entered the Town Hall and administrative offices.