WAR INDUSTRIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 April 1942, Page 3

WAR INDUSTRIES

FIFTY THOUSANB MORE WORKERS WANTED IN AUSTRALIA. GENERAL MACARTHUR'S DEMAND (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) CANBERRA, April 23. General MacArthur has just made known to the Federal Government his minimum demand hi frontline soldiers to conduct his offensive against the Japanese. Industrial leaders have been apprised of the request which, interpreted in terms of the new industrial needs, means that within six weeks or two months 50,000 more workers must be withdrawn from non-essential industries and placed in Avar industries.

Thus, nearly 70 per cent of industrial concerns which have been functioning successfully for years are likely to disappear wholly or partially. Officers of the Department of War Organisation of Industry admitted that the effects of this change-over may come as a shock .to the nation, but they believe the public will “take it.” Their -investigations have revealed that vast economies in manpower and materials can be effected by rationalisation. It is intended to pass to the public the savings in cost of production that will be achieved. Everything, in fact, is to be subordinated to the needs of essential industries and the fighting forces. For example, the Government’s plan visualises reducing patent medicines to about 30 standardised lines, reducing about 30 types of bread to four, the manufacture of soap and tooth-paste in one factory, the limitation of sweets to 10 varieties, and the elimination of all fancy wrappings, and the zoning of food supplies.