SUPPLIES OF WAR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20133, 30 December 1939, Page 6

SUPPLIES OF WAR

BRITISH ORDERS MILLIONS INVOLVED SURVEY BY MINISTER .AUSTRALIA’S SHARE ORES AND WEAPONS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 1 p.m. RUGBY, Dec. 29. Some indication of the extent of the British Government’s war orders was given by the Minister of Supply, Dr. E. L. BUrgin, when he disclosed that, from the outbreak of the war to December 19. orders had been placed by the Ministry totalling £234,000.’()00, without including sums under continuing contracts for raw materials. The Dominions and India had been in contact with the Government on matters , of supply and Dr. Burgin revealed that Australia was supplying, not only ores and gun equipment, but also the most modern anti-aircraft guns. The Minister said that his Ministry was in full working order a month before the war. Britain had been able to buy-up the entire .output of the necessary raw materials at pre-war prices, thereby assuring .both a constant supply and a great saving.

Twenty new ordnance factories hao been put in hand at a cost oi £45,000,000 and the Ministry had extended contractors’ factories in 300 cases at a cost of £10,000,000Next year, Britain’s gun and ammunition output would exceed the height of the maximum effort attained in the last war and already, in the four weeks of December, the British steel production was the highest ever achieved in one month. The French Minister of Munitions will visit London next week to confer with Dr. Burgin, on supply matters affecting the two countries.