The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1941-10-23
THIS WEEK in DEFENSE

ton showed a good gain" Congress
passed legislation authorizing a ST.
500, 000, 900 increase in RFC borrow
ing and lending power to be used par
tally to expand steel producing fac
%ilities by 100000 tons at a cost
Of 81, 600, 00O, 1000. OPM ordered au-
to production for January, 1912,
cut "at least" 81 percent below last
January levels.
The Navy instructed its officers to
impress on companies behind sche-
dule on ordnance contracts the nec-
essity Of speeding deliveries even
if it e working 8 shifts, seven
days a week until caught up. The
Department asked manufacturers
who can increase production by re-
vising their contracts to start new
negotiations at once.
Subcontracting
The OPM Contract Distributor
Division announced large defense or
ders will be withheld from firms re-
fusing to farm out a sizable part of
the work. The announcement said
small business must be modified
quickly because more than GO percent
of all industrial workers are employ
ed by firms having less than 500
workers each.
The War Department reported a
los nm. howitzer was successfully
built from parts made by a refrigera-
tor firm, an oil-well supplies manu-
f~acturer and a railroad car builder
none of whose employees had prior
cannon producing experience. The
Navy reported as an example of its
subcontracting policy that rs small
shops in New York State are working
on parts for naval gun mounts.
Priority Unemployment
The Federal Security Agency ask
ed all employees who anticipate lay
offs due to shortages to report their
problems at once to the nearest
State Employment Office - the first
step in obtaining Government action
to give pplants defense orders. The
Agency said State Employment Of
ficers have already surveyed 200
plants threatened with shortages and
made reports which may result in
placing of defense orders to prevent
unemployment.
Agriculture
The Agriculture Department re.
ported the farm labor supply at 81
percent Of normal and Is percen,
below last year, and said farmers
have been able to keep their hired
men from taking industrial jobs only
by sharply increasing wage rates. The
Agriculture Department announced
hational prospects for all crops i'm
proved about two percent during
September, indicating one Of the lar.
gest total farm yields on record. The
department. said farmers do not need
priority orders to purchase farm
iiach'nery except special classes, be.
cause ratings are assigned to mani
iacturers and warehousemen who
supply farmers.
Prices
The Bureau Of Labor Statistics in.
lex OF 500 wholesale prices remained
nchanged during the week ended
october IL although in the past year
ayerage wholesale prices have risen
10 percent and are the highest since
ariy 1889. Price Administrator Hen
derson notified tire manufacturers
ne would not object to advances in
consumer list prices on tire and tubes
10 not more than nine percent above
u n 10 levels. He also announced an
investigation of crude oil prices be.
cause OF suggested price increases.
Priorities
rrlorities Director Nelson extend.
ca priority assistance to virtually all
industrial plants needing maintenance
ana repair parts. The order was in
me with SPAB policy Of keeping all
industrial machines in good running
order. Mr.. Nelson suspended until
March 81, 1912, the aluminium CD.
oy next June, he said, Hitler is
using five Of every eight hours for
herman war efforts.
oPM Research Chief Stacy Nav.
speasing in New York, reported
spending for defense in September
rose 70 approximately $1,347, 10000
os,O00,O 200 higher than August.
He said Hitler could h. an.
" ?. shifted so percent of its pro-
uuctiVe capacity to ornaments and
sussessed a $50,000,0 600, 000-a-year
defense program.
The War Department announced
meoium tank production almost