MEETING AT DELHI

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 October 1940, Page 6

MEETING AT DELHI

v EMPIRE EASTERN GROUP CONFERENCE WAR CO-ORDINATION PLANS. INDIA’S GREAT INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 6. Preparations are proceeding- in Delhi .for the meeting there of the eastern group conference which opens shortly and will be attended by representatives from New Zealand, Australia and the East African colonies. Their chief task will be to take measures for the co-ordina-tion of the war effort in their countries, with special reference to the position in the Near East. Meanwhile the Roger mission has arrived in India and has begun a tour, during which it will study the development of the munitions industry in India. Striking progress has been made in this Held and the adaptation of plant to war needs is proceeding steadily. The manufacture of steel building and engineering supplies, and various types-" of weapons and ammunition is now being conducted by civil concerns in addition to Government factories. One railway workshop is being adapted to the manufacture of tanks and armoured cars. The manufacture of many medical supplies hitherto imported is being established, and proposals for the manufacture of aluminium are being considered. In other directions India’s vast resources hitherto imported is being established, and proposals for the manufacture of aluminium are being considered. In other directions India’s vast resources are being drawn upon to assist the Empire’s war effort. During the last six months 1000 tons of tea has been supplied for use by the Australian defence forces. New demands for coaFfor the Middle East have been accepted and negotiations for increasing supplies of certain heavy hides have been successfully concluded. During the past fortnight orders have included timber for Iraq, the Middle East and Aden, engineering stores for the Middle East, textiles for Singapore, and jute sacks for Egypt. An order for the construction of a number of small naval vessels is also being executed.