Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-09-22


A Serious War Problem
A MONG those who know both in the United States
~ and in Canada tber~ great and increasing
concern the shortage of wood pulp and newsprnt
Little understood by The public in this country, and
perhaps much better understood by many the
border this is a ITICAIFshortagc.
1t is critical because iNcndangcrs two indispensable
industries only here and in Canada bat also in the
British Isles
One Of these industries has to do directly with NUM-
tons and with fighting the through to victory For
wood pulp is required a the manufacture Of certain
explosives
WITHOUT newspapers operating efficiently. the war
w effort or the home fronts cannot be carried on
Such gigantic undertakings as the 15billon dollar
bond campaigns would fa! without newspaper sup
port and publicity.
The food rationng program would have been exceed
ngy difficult and exceedingly costly to institute without
the medium Of the newspapers
And many other instances could be cited-besides
which, the people must have INFORMATION if they
to support their government nteigently
Indeed, important are newspapers to the whole
effort that Great Britain is endeavorng to increase
the number Of pages in her war-cnrtaed publications..
CANADA has been since the broke out and Sean
- dnavian cut off. the sole great source
of supply of pulp and newsprnt available to Great Britain
and the United States for Great Britain produces
of this material while own purchases from Canada
have enormously exceeded domestic production.
1t is in Canada therefore that the problem must be
solved and in seeking solution it has been made appar
ent that the problem is wholly one of manpower.
Canadian interests have advocated that the govern
ment at Ottawa take three immediate relief measures.
1T HAS been long practice in Canada for farmers to
till their land and to garner their crops part of the
year, and work as woodcutters in other seasons.
At present farming is declared be essential
occupation carrying exemption from military service but
Consequently thousands of farmers longer
going into the woods.
This situation can be adjusted it is urged by rating
woodcutters essential workers.
I HOWEVER because of the acute shortage of pulp
i l extra 10000 needed and the Canadian gov
eminent is asked to utilize prisoners and to assign
members of the home defense army in this temporary
field
In addition announcement was made lately that war
demands such that Canada would institute a
partial rehabilitation providing another emergency labor
These actions in Canadian opinion would be effective.
One of the leading Canadian newspapers, the TO
Globe and Mail pleaded recently editorial
for prompt measures along the foregoing lines.
Pointing out that the pulp and paper industry is
Canadas largest single industrial employer of labor" is
of Canadas heaviest taxpayers and is the most i'm
trade balance the Globe and Mail notes that the indus
try has depended for its existence its American sales
and fears loss of that market-permanently
WHAT the Globe and Mail had in mind, evidently,
w is that this country might be compelled by necessity
to exploit its huge idle timber in Alaska and
TO expand wood production in the South making itself
"self-sufficient."
That would require time, were it done.
In of the priceless solidarity that exists between
Canada and the United States there be doubt that
Americans would prefer to have the problem solved
quickly and satisfactorily Canada, to the benefit of
Canada well ourselves.