The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-09-04
(By Staff Writer)

D66n WORKING overtime lleIS Jul
ing the past few weeks as variou
departments Of the government
and individual analysts have is
sued totally conflicting figures OF
our defense production, on tn
extent of production delays caused
by labor troubles, on the short
age of gasoline in the East and or
other matters of paramount con
Germ to all of us.
After hearing the various fig
ures banded about, most of Us
who are seeking the facts here are
left in state of total confusion.
Discussion on production fig
ures was brought into the lime
light two weeks ago, when Sen
ator Byrd Of Virginia and Presi-
dent Roosevelt got into a much
publicized squabble, both quoting
totally different figures on pro-
duction and both quoting relia-
BILE sources from which they got
their figures.
But giving the President the
benefit of the doubt, even his fig
ures indicate that the amount OF
materials we have sent to Britain
so far is nothing to brag about.
The President admitted that it has
not been satisfactory, although ne
said in most cases it has been up
to estimates.
Plane and tank production is
the leading topic of debate, and
although the figures on this are
not clear, it is evident that there
has been no monthly increase IN
plane production during the past
three months and there has pro-
baby been a decrease in the most
essential types of planes such as
.bombers and fighters. Figures OF
the Office of Production Manage
ment show a total Of l ,456 planes
produced in July, but a large
number of these were training
planes and very few heavy bomb
ers were turned out.
Senator Byrd said he had Off
cial proof to sustain his state
ment that we have produced no
heavy tanks so far, have made
only few medium tanks and
that not a single medium tank
has been sent to Britain, our only
export of tanks being 200 light
tanks sent to Africa.
Particular attention has been
conferred on our speed and eff
cheney of production following the
Presidents request for an addi-
tional $5,oOo,ooo,ooo of lease-lend
funds.
On the gasoline shortage situa-
ton, Ralph K. Davies, acting pc
troleum co-ordinator, issued a
statement two weeks ago saying
that there was only a Today sup
ply of gasoline left in the East
and intimated tn at rationing
would have to be drastic and i'm
mediate. On the following day, oil
company executives gave out fig
ures to show that the supply in
the East was plentiful and init
mated that there may be no need
for rationing at all. Since then
there have been countless argu-
ments on the subject and the pub
lie in the Eastern states has just
gone ahead buying the gasoline
it needs and can buy until the
question is ironed out.
Criticism of the President and
congress for not taking firmer
hand in dealing with strikes has
increased recently, particularly by
members Of the house Of repre-
sentatives who continue to re-
ceive many letters from the folks
back home pointing out the I'M
fairness of boys being ordered to
serve in the army at S21 a month
while those who are assigned the
Job of making equipment for
them, at comparatively high Wag-
es, are permitted to delay pro-
duction for weeks in efforts to
get still higher wages or to
strengthen their labor organiza-
tons.
On September /, the new order
regarding installment selling
went into effect limiting install
ment payments on all goods to l8
months and requiring substantial
down payment on everything but
Improvement of houses.
A schedule of the extent Of Gre
dit was issued providing for the
following minimum down pay
ments: automobiles, 80 1-3 per
cent; refrigerators, 20 per cent;
washing machines, 20 per cent;
sewing machines, 20 per cent;
cooking stoves, 20 per cent; ra-
dos, 20 per cent; furnaces, Is per
cent; water heaters, Is per cent:
household furnishings, 10 per
cent. No down payment of less
L Al