WAR SUPPLIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 January 1941, Page 2

WAR SUPPLIES

AND STUDY OF PROBLEMS OF RECONSTRUCTION CABINET COMMITTEES. I CONSTITUTED IN BRITAIN. j ißritish Official Wireless.’ RUGBY. January 6. I A Ministry is to oe formed for the i study of reconstruction and post-war | problems. Until such time as this is I practicable—when the end of the war | can be more clearly foreseen —this resi ponsibility will be undertaken by the | present Minister without fortfolio, Mr [ Arthur Greenwood, who meanwhile, I will be chairman of a group of Minis--1 ters.

The object will be to find practical solutions for the immediate problems of transition from war to peace and to outline, present, and amplify a policy’ for the years immediately following the war which will command ihe support of the nation as a whole and enable united action to proceed in peace as in war.

This change in the machinery of government is one of three initiated by Mr Churchill and announced this evening from Downing Street. The second is the creation of an import executive to regulate the whole business of importation in accordance with the policy of the War 1 Cabinet. The executive will consist of the five Ministers who are the chief importers—the Minister of Supply (chairman), the Minister of Aircraft Production, the First Lord of the Admiralty, the President of the Board of Trade, and the Minister of Food. Other Ministers will render ali necessary aid.

The third creation is a production executive to allocate the available resources of raw materials, productive capacity, and labour, and fix priorities where necessary. This will consist of the Minister of Labour and National Service (chairman), the Minister of Aircraft Production, the First Lord of the Admiralty, the President of the Board of Trade and the Minister of Supply. The production executive will replace the production council. The committee of the three supply services which already exists to regulate purchases in North America — while continuing its separate work — is also embodied in the import and production executives. The Prime Minister. it is stated, assumes responsibility for ensuring that the work of both executives corresponds with the general policy of the War Cabinet. The work of the import and production executives and of the three existing committees on defence, homo policy, and food policy will continue to bo directed by a committee under the chairmanship of the Lord President of the Council. The committee as now constituted is: Lord President! of the Council (chairman). Lord Privy Seal. Minister without portfolio, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Minister of Labour and National Service, the Home Secretary, and the Minister of Supply. By these arrangements it is hoped that complicated affairs of government in wartime will bo brought into a more simple and closely-knit structure and that more rapid and decisive action will be achieved, while 1 preserving the constitutional respond sibililies of Ministers to the Grown and Parliament.

FULL EFFORT NEEDED NEWSPAPER CRITICISM. GOVERNMENT URGED TO USE POWERS. 'By Telegraph—-Pres>s Association—-Copyright i LONDON, January 6 "The Times,” in a leader on the new Cabinet committees, said disappointment was widespread that the achievements of the Navy, Air Force, and Army had not been backed to the maximum by civilian effort and sacrifice. We are not putting oat our full effort." it eonlmued. "Our resources are not sufliciently utilised ;md we cannot expect to beat a fully mobilised Germany until we put mir whole strength into the war ■ When yesterday the Government l< ak power to requisition per-., ns ser vices .iiul propeny '.lie people expected the Government l<> lull tb.mn h<>v. best to viHitribule to victory There :■ r;i.v.< xa -i,<■!.■.’;<m eve:' the Mims- :< i tvli.mce on .ippa-.iis to the public v. h<m they have the powers ever is r.«‘cc:: jry Worst of all is ’.he impressum lliat ’.he Gov< riimeH! is fumblm:; without .i jxihcy mi tin- whole economic -Me ■ f ’.lie v.i b.i 1 fi .m.m,: ■ '■ a ' • ..elf-m i n.’o'.i j-lice c.ivi im.g the wT. de livid of fm.mcv. production and trade c.mta be dvlaveti without O-'ve ' QueAiornng will m t be : tilled Ui.’dl has such a’ ! ilicy ;m i ■ ■ that ,<1! the ally ” I