SPLENDID PROGRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 May 1942, Page 3

SPLENDID PROGRESS

CANADIAN WAR INDUSTRY OUTPUT OF 400 PLANES A MONTH. TEN THOUSAND TON SHIP EVERY FOUR DAYS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) OTTAWA, May 14. The Minister of Supply, Mr Howe, told the House of Commons that the Canadian war industry had reached the four billion dollar mark, “compared with almost zero in 1939.” Amplifying this statement, the Minister said that personnel of the aeroplane industry had increased four hundred fold, and at the present had an output of 400 planes a month. The House cheered enthusiastically when Mr Howe further disclosed that Canada was launching a 10,000-ton merchantman every four days. He added that he hoped the period would soon be every three days. The impressive development of Canadian air power is shown by further details given by the Dominion’s Air Minister, Mr Power, who disclosed that Canadian airmen are taking part now in every bombing raid over Germany. One Canadian squadron is operating in the Far East and two in the Near East. Wherever the R.A.F. operates, graduates of the British Commonwealth air training plan, of which Canada is the centre, are flying and fighting. The strength of the Canadian Air Force is estimated at more than 115,000, exclusive of the attached Australian and New Zealand and British airmen. Its output of air-crews is 25 per cent above the objective. A 42-000,000-dollar programme for building of home defence aerodromes on both coasts is under way. Up to now, Canada has spent 3,447,000,000 dollars on the war, according to an official statement. The major items are aircraft, ship-building, ordnance, land transport and construction and defence projects.