BRITISH INDUSTRY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 October 1939, Page 6

BRITISH INDUSTRY

KEYED TO MAGNIFICENT WAR EFFORT FRUITS OF PATIENT PLANNING. ASSURANCE OF AMPLE OUTPUT. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Received This Day. 9 a.m.) LONDON. October 17. A special representative of the Australian Associated Press, Mr Trevor Ross, “somewhere in industrial Britain.” writes at the request of the Government:—"Britain’s greatest industrialists. for the first time, have lifted the veil from war time production in qrder that the Dominions may see something of the first fruits of their patient planning. Within six weeks of the outbreak of war, Britain’s vast industrial system had achieved a degree of organisation not reached until at least three years after the last war began. This was the most outstanding conclusion of a week's investigation by a highly privileged party of British and foreign journalists.

“Beginning the memorable tour ‘somewhere at sea.’ with the Fleet, we watched the Empire’s life blood flowing across the trade arteries. Now we have examined the very heartbeats of industrial Britain, have seen them quickening under the stimulus of war and have listened to the country’s greatest experts pronounce them steady and competent to withstand considerably more strain. A story of Britain’s foresight lies behind momentous announcements of the part the Domhv ions intend to play in welding the Empire’s war time economy. One typical plant can already put out six times above its output of a year ago. The shadow factory has abandoned its role of industrial reservist and taken its place in the front line of national production. The most heartening assurance is given everywhere that, although Britain is now in her productive stride, her capacity has not yet begun to be taxed seriously. The high standard of maintenance insisted upon by consumer firms for many years means' that, unlike Germany, Britain enters the war with her heavy industry free to devote itself exclusively to national production for many years if necessary. We have inspected vast plants whose pre-war production of armaments was four per cent of their total output today. We found everywhere a spirit of co-operation and enthusiasm which is acting as a lubricant for the vast machine of national endeavour.”