Evening star., 1942-10-01
SeptemberArn1s
Output 'Spotty,'
Nelson Declares
Gains Over August
Few and Still Short
Of Fixed Goals
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

over august, DuL Jnat the output
of war goods still was short of
previously fixed goals.
Mr.. Nelson in a press conference
did not elaborate on this statement
concerning last months arms out
put. He announced yesterday that
August production was up 8 per
cent over July, though IA per cent
short of forecasts-a performance
that is nothing for us to brag
about"
The production chief said he
hadn't made up his mind whether
to name labor representative as
a vice chairman of the War Pro-
duction Board.
Will Announce Policy Committee.
He added that he would announce
shortly the membership of a labor
management policy committee for
WPB, composed of two representa-
tlves OF labor, two from industry
and an impartial chairman.
He said all had been decided on
with the exception of one industry
man.
Mr.. Nelson added that labor also
might be given representation in
WPB's steel branch and on the
STATS of Vice Chairmen Ferdinand
Eberstadt and Charles E. Wilson,
who handle scheduling of programs
and production for WPB.
On the question as to whether he
would follow the priority or the
ALLEGATIONS plan for dividing war
materials, Mr.. Nelson said a COM
bination of both would be used.
He implied that from Is to 30
per cent of raw materials would
continue to be handled through the
priority system and the remainder
through plan of direct ALLEGATIONS
Materials for more important
military items such as tanks. guns
and airplanes would be allocated
directly to manufacturers.
Mr.. Nelson was asked how long it
would be before the cuts of mate
rlals in the fourth quarter of the
year for civilian use would be re-
hected In consumer goods for sale
He replied that it would probably
come within four or five months.
Doubts Food Shortage.
Mr.. Nelson said he had not been
close enough to the food situat ton
to tell just what it was. He added
that crops this year were unusually
good and that he did not think there
would be any particular shortage.
He said it was impossible to say
what foods other than meats would
be curtailed for civilian consump-
ton.
Questioned about the part the
Army and Navy Munitions Board
will play in future war production
plans, Mr.. Nelson said it would be
more closely tied to operation of the
WPR.
He added that officers on ANMB
would sit with WPB committees in
making divisions of strategic mate
rial.
He did not say whether or not A
civilian chairman for the board
would be named to replace Mr..
Eberstadt, who was appointed a
WPB vice chairman two weeks ago.
Referring to the suggestion he
made yesterday to the Senate Small
Business Committee for the crea ton
of war liability adjustment board
to help finance the problems of
small manufacturing firms closed
by the war and to help them get
started in business after the war,
Mr.. Nelson said such an organiza-
ton definitely would not be- part
of WPB.
He said he wanted WPB to en-
gage solely in problems of produc-
ton.
Allotment Balance Achieved.
Total raw material allotments for
military and military produc-
ton in the fourth quarter of 1912
have been pulled within the limits
of estimated supplies by the WPB's
Requirements Committee.
Reporting that yesterday, Mr.. Mel
son said it was the first time such a
balance has been achieved in ad-
vance. He added that in adjusting
requirements to match available
supply 1t was necessary to reduce
requests of companies under the
production requirements plan from
moderate amount in the case OF
direct military items to substan-
tial amount in case of less essential
items"
For reasons of military security
the quantities of materials allowed
for military and for non military
use were not disclosed. nor were the
percentages of reduction of demands
for materials.
WPB said these principles were
applied in scaling down requests:
Items most urgently needed were
provided for first, receiving the least
reduction: material inventory was
considered so that reductions in re-
quests were possible in cases where
companies had sufficient stocks on
hand to permit such a cut.
Armed Services Make Own Cuts.
The armed services were re-
sponsible for cutting direct military
the WPB said, report
ing that 'by operating under the
principle that direct military items
come first, the cut among these
items were smallest. while cuts
among items of less military urgency
we're larger"
Mr.. Nelson said authorizations to
receive materials under the produc-
ton requirement plan were being
to applicants with changes
N the original requests conforming
o the Requirements Committees
determinations.
He said application forms for the
irst quarter Of 1943 would be mailed
shortly.
{