Evening star., 1941-08-29
New Priorities Board
Will Speed Defense,
Knudsen Predicts
Work Will End Disputes
Between Agencies,
O. P. IA. Chief Says
BY JAMES FREE.

O.. M. Director William S. Knud-
sen predicted today that the new
Supply Priorities and ALLEGATIONS
Board created by President Roosevelt
will be able to speed up the Nation S
defense production program.
The first meeting of the board, of
which he is a member will be held
at 4 pm. next Tuesday, Mr.. Knud-
sen said.
Commenting on the new super
agency, the o. P. M. chief said he
thought the effect of its creation
will be good"
Now leaders of defense agencies
can sit down and talk things out"
he explained. In the past, some
times one agency has gone In one
direction and another agency in an
other direction without consulta-
ton"
Mr.. Knudsen admitted that the
automobile production curtailment
dispute between the Office of Pro-
duction Management and the Office
of Price Administration was an ex-
ample of this movement in opposite
directions.
Under the new setup, Mr.. Knudsen
revealed that the old o. P. M. Pro-
duction Division will be divided into
a materials division and a pr0duC-
ton division Head of the produc-
ton division will be w. H Harrison,
former vice president of the Amer
lean Telephone &T&elegraph Co.,
New York City. The materials divi-
sion will be directed by William L..
Bait, former executive of S. K. F..
Industries of Philadelphia and
deputy director of the o. p M Pro-
duction Division under John D.
Biggers.
The new materials division will be
charged with responsibility for pro-
curement of raw materials and sup
plies needed for facilities required
for defense production, according to
Mr.. Knudsen.
The production division, proper.
will supervise expansion of the Ma
tion's manufacturing facilities for
defense.
Speaking of the shifting of Mr..
Biggers to the post of Minister to
Great Britain to aid in the produc-
ton phases of the lease-lend pro-
gram, and transfer of E. r. Stet-
tinius, jr., from the position of di-
rector of the o. P. M. Priorities Di-
vision to lease-lend administrator
Mr.. Knudsen said:
20. P. M. has lost two awfully
good men. We are sorry to see them
go, but the President wants them.
They worked hard in organizing
their respective divisions and we
wish them we'll in their new and
important assignments"
MacKeachie Succeeds Nelson.
Mr.. Knudsen confirmed reports
that the o. P. M. Purchases Divi-
sion would be directed by Douglas L.
MacKeachie, former purchasing
officer for the Great Atlantic & Pa
cific Tea Co. in Boston. Mr.. Mac
Keachie succeeds Donald M. Nelson,
who was named executive director of
the new S. P. A. B.
The O. P. NJ chief indicated there
would be no more disputes between
his agency and Price Administrator
Leon Henderson over schedules of
automobile production curtailment.
He pointed out that Mr. Henderson's
Civilian Allegations Division has
been placed underAO. P. M. in the
reorganization. While the data for
automobile production curtailment
will be supplied by Mr.. Henderson's
division, it will be handled primarily
by the O. P. M. Automobile Com
mittee and must receive final ap-
proval from the S. P. A. B.
Asked if all O. P. M divisions, in
Guiding Mr.. Henderson's, must re-
port to him as their boss in such
matters, Mr.. Knudsen replied, THE
answer is in the affirmative.