CANADIAN WAR SUPPLIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 179, 1 August 1940, Page 6

CANADIAN WAR SUPPLIES

INCREASING OUTPUT AEROPLANES AND TANKS A SELF-CONTAINED NAVY [Dy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) Received July 31. 5.10 p.m. OTTAWA, July 30. The Minister of Supply, Mr. C. I). Howe, stated in the House of Commons that Canadian factories expected to turn out 360 aeroplanes and 30 tanks a month early in 1941. Eight factories were working on the production of 3200 planes, 257 of which had been delivered. The contracts involved 110.000,000 dollars. A programme for further production and for materially increasing the output was being discussed between Canada -and Britain. Canada was at present producing 600 mechanised units a day, for which Canadian orders alone amounted to 54,500,000 dollars. Britain, India, and South Africa were buying largely. British and Canadian orders for tanks totalled 63,000,000 dollars. Mr. Howe said that Canada was rapidly achieving a self-contained navy. Fourteen thousand men were employed at the shipyards and in associated industries. Before the end of the year 28 anti-submarine vessels and five mine-sweepers would be completed. The programme provides for 54 anti-submarine vessels for the Canadian Navy. 10 for the Royal Navy, and 28 minesweepers for panada. Supply of Machine Tools Mr. Howe said that Canada was experimenting in the manufacture of aeroplane instruments and metal propellers, but had decided not to attempt to make engines. Canada had recently been producing machine tools in a volume which challenged the imagination. The production of manufactured goods was the largest in the Dominion's history, but was small compared with what would be done when factories under construction, involving a capital cost of 120.000,000 dollars, attained their productive capacity. A sum of 500,900,000 dollars a year was being spent on munilions. The programme involved the manufacture, of Lce-Enfleld rifles, Bren guns, and Colt and Browning pistols, aircraft ma-chine-guns, sub - machine-guns, two-pounder anti-aircraft guns. 25-pounder quick-firing guns, 40millimetre Bofors anti-tank guns. 3.7 anti-aircraft and anti-tank rifles, and 20-milllmetre Hispano Suiza aircraft cannon.

The largest gun plant, which would manufacture 25-pounders and heavy naval guns, involved a capital investment ot 10,000,000 dollars, and would be producing before the end of the year. There were now 14 plants producing shells, including four-milli-metre, 18- and 25-pounder, and 3.7 in„ 4.5 m., 6in., and 9.2 in. shells. The total ammunition orders amounted to 69.000,000 dollars, of which 9,000,000 dollars comprised capital expenditures. Orders would immediately be increased by 33,000,000 dollars, involving the production of several million shells. Orders for small arms and ammunition total 19,000,000 dollars. Explosives plants would begin in September to produce T.N.T., nitrocellulose, and rifle cordite. The capital investment involved would be 30,000,000 dollars. Control By Corporation Plant was being constructed for the manufacture of optical glass, gunsight predictors, etc. The production ot aluminium was being doubled. The operation of the entire programme is in the hands of the Allied. War Supplies Corporation, which will operate the secondary chemical and other industries incidental to the programme. The corporation will thus be responsible for the administration of new capital investments totalling 110,000,000 dollars. Mr. Howe added ‘hat general buying, including clothing, food and equipment for the troops totalled 245,000,000 dollars, of which 217,000,000 dollars had been spent in Canada. 22,000,000 dollars in the United Kingdom, and 6,700,000 dollars in the United States.