WAR SUPPLIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 September 1941, Page 6

WAR SUPPLIES

SPEED OF DEVELOPMENTS IN AUSTRALIA ASTONISHES BRITISH MISSION. EXCESSIVE OVERTIME CAUSES LOSS OF EFFICIENCY. ißy Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) CANBERRA, September 11. That excessive continuous overtime is being worked in many Australian munition factories is revealed in the report of the British Supply Commission which visited Australia early this year. The report adds that excessive overtime in England caused a considerable loss of efficiency and had an adverse effect on the nerves. The mission was astonished by the speed with which manufacturing programmes, large and small, had been planned, put into operation, and brought to fruition in spite of the initial difficulties of obtaining plant. Nevertheless, there appeared to be a lack of appreciation by the Australian public and munition workers themselves of the extent and importance of the work they were doing. The report declared that the possibilities for armament and war supplies production in Australia far exceeded those of any other country in the eastern supply group, but this country was rapidly approaching its maximum possible output of munitions. Generally, the mission suggested to the Australian authorities that, before undertaking new forms of armament production. thej r should consider carefully whether these could be grafted to the industrial structure of the Commonwealth successfully or only by interrupting the production which was already proceeding so satisfactorily. Sir Alexander Roger, leader of the mission, in a separate report, paid a tribute to the initiative and resource of Australian manufacturers, but added that there was need for a much closer relationship between designnow the responsibility of the army—and production, which is in the hands of engineers both ordnance and civil.

MOVE FOR PRIORITY HIGHLY SPECIALISED PLANT. (Received This Day. 8.55 a.m.) CANBERRA, This Day. The British Supply Mission recommends that the United Kingdom Government give the • Commonwealth priority in the supply of highly specialised plant which cannot be made in Australia. 25=POUNDER HOWITZERS ONE OF THE BEST GUNS KNOWN. MANUFACTURE IN AUSTRALIA. (Received This Day. 8.55 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. Australian-made 25-pounder howitzers were tested for the first time today. General Mackay said the gun represented one of the greatest improve-; ments in artillery in recent years anq was one of the best guns in existence?. “Our own artillery men said that if they had had 25-pounders in Crete they could have stopped the German invasion," he said. “As it was they had lost their guns—similar to those Australia is making—in Greece."