WELL MAINTAINED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 166, 16 July 1942, Page 5

WELL MAINTAINED

WAR PRODUCTION Reports Of Ministers In Commons Debate British Official Wireless. Rec. 1 p.m. RUGBY, July 15. Opening the debate in the House of Commons on the estimates for the Ministries of Production, Supply and Aircraft Production, the Minister of Production, Mr. Oliver Lyttelton, spoke of the suitability and quality of weapons now being manufactured. The Minister claimed that the British aeronautical industry has led the world in adapting itself to the changing conditions which air fighting has brought about. The lead with which we began war in that respect had been maintained. With regard to army requirements, said Mr. Lyttelton, when new enemy equipment was captured it was sent home as soon as a preliminary investigation had been made to see what lessons could be learned from it. These, however, could not be translated into steel in a few minutes. The use of diluted labour in the factories called for more elaborate tooling, and the greatest ingenuity was needed to strike the right balance between volume of production and flexibility, the latter being limited by the expert labour available. Referring to the American shipbuilding programme, he said vessels were being turned out at an almost unbelievable rate. Replying to the debate the Minister of Supply, Sir Andrew Duncan, said that production no longer raised any serious doubt. Britain had established quantity of output, and could now establish quality. The country had at last reached a point where it could rely that the weapons produced would place the forces on an equality with tne enemy, and that factories would keep pace with Axis output.

Sir Andrew said that Britain had suffered from a policy that had been forced upon the country by the necessity to make hurried preparation against invasion, but the technical development of arms had been kept up. and he assured the House that collaboration of the highest level was being maintained on "most forwardlooking lines." Every conceivable step was being taken to ensure that full use would be made of the lessons learned.

Reports were being received from experts in the field and from serving soldiers, and manufacturers were encouraged to keep in closet touch with suggestions from the field and the services in Britain. The Government was making arrangements for manufacturers to send representatives abroad.

In conclusion, the Minister declared that a stage had been reached where the country could pay much more attention to future requirements, and there was a strong organisation connecting present production with future policy.