BRITISH INDUSTRY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20061, 6 October 1939, Page 11

BRITISH INDUSTRY

PEACE TO WAR NEEDS RESOURCES- MOBILISED MUNITIONS PRODUCTION (Elec. Tel. Copyright— United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 2.10 p.m. RUGBY, Oct. 4. An outstanding example of the change-over of British industry from peace-time to war-time needs, is shown by flic efficiency with which engineering firms, formerly producing a variety of peace-time products, arc already able wholly to concentrate on armaments. Typical is a Midlands factory, which formerly was producing steel tubes, where 3.7 anti-aircraft shells are now being manufactured at the rate of over 1,000.000 annually. Many similar factories arc already in operation or are being constructed for mass production of munitions in Britain and throughout the Empire. Armaments in Britain are normally made at Royal ordanace factories and certain numbers of specialised armaments plants, but the exigencies of war necessitate the mobilisation of wider industrial resources. As a result of many months ol careful Dimming new factories have been erected and specialised machinery and buildings adapted. An official of the Ministry of Supply indicated that the present rate of production of shells is six times greater than during the most active period in the last war. Meanwhile, the number of operations in shell production has been considerably reduced. The' industrial works now concerned in the production of munitions include textile machinery manufacturers, locomotive builders, manufacturers of mining machinery and motor parts and even small seaside garages have been adapted to the production of light anti-aircraft shells.