EMPIRE’S EFFORT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 August 1941, Page 6

EMPIRE’S EFFORT

CONTRIBUTION BY CANADA

; ECONOMIC CHANGES, VITAL FORCE IN WAR CAMPAIGN. An instructive survey of economic changes brought about in Canada by the war has been published in the latest Chatham House bulletin. The writer estimates that Canada devoted last year some 33 pci - cent of her net national income to her own war effort plus loans to Britain. In the current financial year the Dominion will probably devote about 45 per cent of the national income to these purposes, and possibly more than that if labour shortage should prevent the full utilisation of resources. Although remote from the scene of war, Canadians are‘thus preparing to divert nearly as much of their accustomed supplies and comforts to war purposes as we have done in this country.

As for munitions supplies, the story is the same as in the United States. ■"Work is proceeding fast on new factories and plant extensions, but the full measure of output will not begin until late in the current year. At the end of 1941 the value of the munitions output is estimated to reach $1,500,000,000 a year, or £375,000,000. This amount refers only to the supply of finished war materials, and not to capital" expenditure, or, for example, to the value of the services of the Dominion's armed forces. It will include large deliveries of ships, tanks, aircraft, army vehicles, guns and ammunition. In all these branches of war production, great progress has already been made, and current output is considerable, though much more is still to come. Canada’s industrial effort is all the more remarkable as her entire population hardly exceeds 11,000,000, and her occupied population numbers roughly 4,600,000, of whom probably less than 30 per cent are engaged in agriculture, forestry, etc., and 32 per cent in trade, finance and services. Well over 30 percent may be taken as engaged in mining and industry, but this is not much more than 1,500,000 workers, not allowing for those who have joined the fighting forces. All the more remarkable is the achievement of the Dominion, which, after early difficulties, is now beginning to make a really important contribution to the material needs of the war.