Evening star., 1942-01-02
Auto Ration System
Expected 10 Replace
Ban on Retail Sales
Government Speeds
Conversion Of PIunts
To War Purposes
BY the Associated Press.

ana tdIlkS W IlSit Will, Vic AoS
tories which in peacetime made four
times as many automobiles as the
rest of the world put together will
be required to halt all manufacture
of new cars and light trucks for
civilian use within a few weeks"
it was announced.
The problem Of employment
created by the order was discussed
by President Roosevelt at his press
conference this morning. Some
workers, he conceded, necessarily
must be laid of.
Labor Understands Situation.
But he added that he had received
quite a number Of reports from
labor leaders in the automotive in
iustry which displayed approximate
ly a 100 per cent understanding of
the matter.
They realize, he said, that there
is a need for retooling auto factories
so they can produce war equipment,
that many employees must be out OF
work for a while. Hardships will be
taken care OF, however, Mr.. Roosevelt
said, and employees will 60 back to
their jobs after retooling has been
completed
Asked whether Workmen might be
out of work for six months, the
President said he would guess that
the average would be two months.
The 450,0O0 passenger cars and the
light and heavy trucks now in stock
with dealers can be bought only by
Government, lease-lend and the
most essential civilian users, the
Government decreed. Pending es-
tablishment of a rationing system to
handle distribution of these auto
mobiles, the purchase, sale and de-
livery of all new cars and trucks is
prohibited.
The rationing organization is ex-
pected to be in operation by jan
uary IS. It will be supervised by
Price Administrator Leon Hender-
son.
GAPNSVLus
The sale ban had been expected
by the automobile industry, but
came earlier than had been antic-
ipated. Representatives Of the in
dustry are to meet with Supply.
Priorities and Allegations Board Of
ficials here Monday to discuss the
war production program.
Alvan Macauley, president of the
Automobile Manufacturers Associa-
ton. said in Detroit that the few
weeks of grace until manufacture of
civilian cars must end entirely would
help the industry readjust produc-
ton from civilian to defense items
to our advantage and the advantage
of labor"
Mr.. Macauley pointed out that the
industry already had contributed a
great deal in development of the
arms program and expects in the
year ahead to do a great deal more"
A Ford,Motor Co. spokesman issued
the following statement:
The Ford Motor Co., Of course,
will take immediate steps to comply
with the Governments request which
was obviously made for the purpose
of diverting materials used in the
manufacture Of pleasure cars to that
of the more important production of
war necessities"
The United Automobile Workers
&C. I. o. has contended all along
that the industry was not producing
war materials in sufficient ouanti-
ties. Several months ago, Walter P.
Reuther, assistant co-ordinator Of
the U. A. VIC. I. o. Defense
Employment Division. predicted the
step which the Government now has
ordered and urged immediate full
time production of war implements.
r. j. Thomas, international presi-
dent of the U. A. VIC. I. O.. said
the ban came as mo surprise"
The prohibition doesn't affect
us, Mr.. Thomas said, because we're
concerned primarily with produc-
ton. If they can't make cars. they
can't sell them and we've known for
quite a while that making them
was going to end pretty soon.
Several weeks ago we received
information that production would
last only a few weeks into the new
year. We understood at that time
that only 100000 more cars would be
made"
Approximately 10000 q. A. w.
c. I. o. members already are un-
employed as a result of curtailed
production. Mr.. Thomas predicted
that at least as many more will be
out of jobs when production actually
is halted.
Making War Materials.
Defense items now being turned
out by automobile manufacturers
include tanks, airplane motors, guns,
shells and a score of other weapons
in addition to the Army trucks and
blitz buggies for which little
change-over was needed.
When the program is In full swing
one of the main weapons to be pro-
duced by the industry will be heavy,
long range bombers. Some idea of
its capacity is given by the 1889
production figure Of 3,732,71s cars
and trucks worth $2,418,030 ,606
compared with the 1,046, ,452 vehicles
made by all other countries COM
bined.
Automobile factories in England
were converted to war production
in 1899. In Canada the production
Of cars Is being curtailed drastically
and is to be virtually discontinued
March 81.
The text Of the o. P. M. order pro-
hibiting purchase, sale. or delivery
of new passenger cars follows: