Evening star., 1941-09-11
S.P.A.B. Survey 10 LIST
Needs for Military
And Civil Use
Defense Planners to Get
DetoiIed Dioerom Of
Materials Required
nv the Associated Press.

mF the Associated Press.
The Supply Priorities and Alloca-
lions Board today undertook to make
q gigantic inventory Of all the Ma
tions material requirements for both
military and civil use.
Donald M. Nelson, executive di-
rector of the board, was placed in
charge of drawing up the big list,
which k expected to give defense
planners a detailed diagram OF ma
terials needed, likely shortages OF
specific supplies and a key to in
dustriaI expansion requirements.
Lease-lend needs likewise will be
taken into account.
Raw materials, labor and ma
ehinery needed for production are to
be listed.
8. P. A. B. called the inventory
\ move striking directly at the al
he'd problems Of shortages OF essen
tial materials and expansion OF pro-
duetive facilities"
Seeks to Avoid Confusion.
The announcement added:
Tn calling for this long-range, all
inclusive survey of the Nations total
needs under the defense program,
8. p A. B. followed the view that
there must be one authority to de-
velop the official requirement f1gures
on both levels, holding that there
would be confusion otherwise, be-
cause the several parts OF the re-
ouirement picture must be developed
by separate agencies"
Meanwhile, there were indications
that private motor car production
might be curtailed further. William
S. Knudsen, director of the Once
of Production Management, an
nounced that Leon Henderson, de-
fense director of civilian supply, had
been placed in full control OF auto
mobile quotas.
Mr.. Henderson has been outspoken
In his belief that further cuts IN
auto production we're necessary to
conserve materials for the defense
industries.
Quotas for Four Months.
The Automotive Defense Advisory
Committee has fixed a maximum car
production for August, September,
october and November of approx
mately IA per cent of output for the
same months of 1910. December
quotas will be announced soon.
In addition to being placed IN
control of auto production, Mr.. Hen
derson was given primary response
bility for all branches of industry
serving civilian needs. These in
clude pulp and paper. printing and
publishing, electrical products and
the consumers durable goods.
Mr.. Nelson issued an order yes
terday making all preference ratings
mandatory in an effort to strengthen
enforcement of Government priority
rules and regulations.
Based on Voluntary Cooperation.
Mandatory priority orders have
been issued before on some Govern
n1ent purchases, but the ratings is
sued for civilian contracts, for for
eign governments and for some
other United States governmental
contracts were based on the volun-
tary cooperation of the persons
concerned.
At the same time, the Navy an
nounced q program to spread naval
defense contracts "just as widely as
possible"
Acting Secretary James Forresta1
Issued an order creating naval
contracts distribution division, to be
headed by Capt. Charles w Fisher,
director of shore establishments.
Capt. Fisher is charged with COM
batting "priorities unemployment"
by extending the practice of sub
contracting on big Navy orders,
breaking up purchases among a
number of suppliers, and helping to
convert factories making civilian
goods into defense plants.
The Work Projects Administration
announced a program for assisting
millions of persons to establish the
fact of birth in the United States,
as a means of increasing the flow
of workers into defense industries.
President Roosevelt was reported to
have approved a S1,208,000 expendi-
ture for the work.
The program is designed to ac-
eelerate the issuance of birth certlf1-
Gates to meet the requirements OF
defense industries that their workers
be American citizens.