Evening star., 1941-09-07
Small Manufacturers
Fear They May Have
1oCurtai| Operations
U. S. Chamber Report
Cites Shortages and
Priorities Difficulties

The Nations small manufacturers
believe they soon will be forced TO
curtail operations or possibly close
their plants because of a lack of
raw materials and equipment short
ages, the Chamber of Commerce
of the United States reported yes.
terday after a survey of 5000 man
ufacturers.
The chamber gave, fear for the
immediate future" as the chief con-
Germ of this type of manufacturer.
The Nationwide survey of non-
defense manufacturing concerns
brought this typical reply:
While we are presently running
along with reasonable satisfaction
considering the times-we anticipate
ever-increasing difficulties in OBJ
tanning our necessary raw materials.
In the case of raw materials re-
qulred for n0n-defenSe items, II
seems to us that the near future
will bring about an almost COM
plete cessation of deliveries"
Substitutes Also Hard to Get.
The survey indicated the manu-
facturer who can convert his equip
ment for defense production use
was faced with an Elusive problem.
However, the chamber reported, the
manufacturer is dubious about be-
ing able to convert facilities to de-
fense orders.
Though few manufacturers have
been able to develop substitutes, a
majority reported that substitutes
were as difficult to obtain as the
original material. Defense priori-
ties have caused confusion. the
chamber declared, and disilusion-
ment has come for those seeking
substitutes who find the new ma
terial already Is on an o. P. M.
priorities list.
Priorities Little Help.
Companies also reported that,
though engaged in defense work
they were having difficulty In OBJ
tanning materials. An Ohio firm de-
clared that 1T is rapidly getting
to the point where a small manufac-
turer, such as ourselves, will be
forced to cease operations. This in
spite of the fact that a minimum
of 10 per cent of our sales are for
defense projects.
I'VE have applied to the Priorities
Division for assistance, but we are
still without any direct help. We
have had two representatives ir
Washington discussing the matter
with the division, and each time
they give us an entirely different
story as to what is necessary anC
what we are to do"
The chamber charged that manu-
| facturers were having difficulty il
obtaining priority ratings wher
their work is not of direct defense
character, although essential to de-
fense, since they act as suppliers
for defense prime or subcon.
tractors"
System Too Complicated.
Though admitting recognition oi
| the priority system, the manufac.
turers in general claim the system
has grown to such complicated pro.
portions they have trouble ap.
preaching the problem of getting re-
lief for their companies" according
to the chamber survey.
Millers, bakers and others en-
gagged in peacetime manufacturing
not in conflict with defense needs
the reported claimed, stated they
fear that they may have to cut
production and lay off employees fol
lack of plant equipment and ma
chinery although raw materials
are plentiful.
while cognizant of the problem;
Of government under the stress OF
growing national emergency. manu-
facturers generally expressed them
selves as believing that they should
have received more advance warn.
ing concerning the extent and ma
ture of raw material shortages" the
chamber stated
The citrus fruit industry of Pales-
tine has been seriously depressed by
the war. the Department of Com
rnarro cove