VAST BRITISH OUTPUT

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 289, 4 September 1942, Page 5

VAST BRITISH OUTPUT

Rate Revealed For Munitions THE PRESENT CAPACITY (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 2. Britain’s enormous productive capacity and the important part her factories are playing in the war effort are shown by figures quoted by a London economic expert. Since the outbreak of the ■war, he said, the British and Dominion navies have had delivered to them at least 500 fighting ships, excluding minesweepers and motor gun-boats. This is in addition to the production of merchant tonnage, repairs to ships, and the conversion of merchant ships to war uses. Tanks, “jeeps,” and other mechanical vehicles are being produced at the rate of 275,000 a year; ammunition for big guns at the rate of 25,000,000 million rounds a year; for small arms, 2,000,000,000 rounds, and guns, from two-pounders upward, but excluding anti-aircraft guns, 6000 a year. During last year 9781 aircraft and 3000 tanks were sent overseas, and 2134 aircraft and 2000 tanks were imported. By June, 1942, 2000 tanks had been sent to Russia.

BRITAIN’S OVERSEAS TRADE PROBLEMS

Increased Effects Of War

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 2.

Trading difficulties brought about by the shipping problems, Britain’s need for her owm productions, and the Dominions’ requirements which have been increased through the loss of Japanese trading were discussed by the President of the Board of Trade, Dr. Hugh Dalton, -when addressing representatives of the cotton industry at Manchester.

These difficulties, he said, were part of the price to be paid for peace. Britain had been compelled to cut down exports more and more, and she had been helped to do this by the lend-and-lease plan, which had eased the problem of paying for imports. At the same time, they were reaching a stage where further cuts in civilian supplies were less possible and therefore they must use at home goods which otherwise would be exported. Consequently, they would bo sending less to the “currency” countries, but instead the demands from the Dominions had increased.

Control was absolutely necessary, and while it had caused hardship it had prevented a scramble for supplies with the accompaniment of soaring prices and wastage of stocks.