Evening star., 1942-12-06

from non-war industry and the most
efficient utilization Of our present labor
| force.
| Our transportation facilities carried
the greatest volume of traffic in history
| and both our railroads and trucking sys-
TENS set fine records. The next year will
| see even greater burdens cast on them,
| with little, If any, additional equipment
| available. Rubber-borne transportation,
truck, bus and private automobiles, pre-
sents one of our gravest problems, and
stringent tire conservation measures
have been undertaken to assure against
breakdown which might vitally impair
our productive effort.
Farms at Production High.
Food and fiber production reached
record high in 1912 Food production
was II per cent above 1e41 and 40 per
cent above the war year Of 1918. A large
proportion of this production was in
proteins and fats, necessities in time of
War-meat, milk, eggs, soybeans.
Increase or even maintenance Of this
high level will not be an easy matter.
Shortages of labor and farm machinery
are inevitable, although deferment of
essential farm workers and operators
from military call will ease the former.
In the meantime, the food needs OF our
armed forces are mounting to such an
extent that military and lend-lease buy
ing will take Is per cent of our farm
output Shortages have developed in
some products and will develop in others.
Yet an adequate overall diet can be
assured.
The part played by management, labor
and the farmers in our production
achievements cannot be overestimated.
The doubts and hesitancies which i'm
peded conversion of industry went over
board soon after the beginning Of the
year and conversion was accomplished in
much less time than many had feared.
Labor voluntarily surrendered the right
to strike, and Its leaders have Loyalty
kept their agreement. Labor manage
ment committees in some 1900 plants
have given us the basis for effective CO.
operation and for participation by labor
in the productive process Still, some
unauthorized strikes remain, as do the
lingering traces of business -as-usuai in
various corners of the production effort.
The refashioning of our civilian econ
omy has taken much effort. Effective
stabilization of the civilian economy was
delayed for many months over disagree
ment as to means and methods. BY
ho ~ iviy, LoI
risen some IS per cent over the emo Of
1899. But price regulation instituted in
April held down the increases in prices
subject to control to six-tenths OF l per
cent as Of october IS. Wage stabiliza-
ton, one OF the great issues Of the year,
has reached the stage Of solution.
Rationing Required.
Growing shortages of rubber, meat,
sugar, coffee and gasoline and fuel oil
in the East, brought the necessity OF
rationing these and some other COM
modities to insure an orderly and fair
distribution of our supplies. The total
volume of goods available to civilian
consumers has steadily grown smaller.
In the plenty of peacetime we can permit
any one to buy as mech as he wants
because some will always remain for
those who come last. In the scarcity OF
war, those who cannot stock up must be
able to secure their share along with
their richer neighbors. For the coming
wear efforts will be directed towards
guaranteeing the essentials of civilian
living, to prevent such falterng OF the
civilian economy as will impair the war
effort
The campaign of the home front has
had to be carried on in many other
sectors. Unprecedented sums of money
have been raised through taxes and
public financing. In the first 10 months
of 1912, over $4,000 900 900 was collected
in taxes, and over $4,000 100000 was
raised through the sale of bonds and
other Government obligations Provision
has had to be made for expanding health,
sanitary and welfare services: more hous-
ing has been and still is needed for war
workers; civilian defense organization
| OF 10000 900 volunteers has been built;
the safeguarding of our shores and
has required constant vigilance.
Not the least Of our hosts of problems
have been those of governmental
organization. New organizations have
been created for production, manpower,
economic stabilization, the handling of
labor disputes and wages price control,
economic warfare, war information, and
| other matters. A network of combined
boards has worked to fuse effectively our
resources with those of the other United
Nations. Controversy still revolves over
organizational problems, and some Of
them will continue to be with us In the
coming year. 1t took generations to
build our structure Of peace-time govern
ment. Now We are trying. as We must
to build wartime government In year
or two.