The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-06-23
Willy High Honoring War Class
AUTO INDUSTRY
PLANS SWIFT
RECONvERSION
BY ANTHONY G. DE LORENZO
UNITED Press Staff Correspondent

BY ANTHONY G. DE LORENZO
UNITED Press Staff Correspondent
Detroit, June 23.-(UP)-A plan
for quick re-conversior of the auto
motive industry to production of
passenger cars and trucks after the
war Is under consideration by man
ufacturers whose facilities now are
turning out $1,000,000 worth of war
materials. every hour.
The industry has assigned some
of its top talent TO the problem of
obtaining q swift, orderly swing
back 70 peacetime production onos
the war is won. Major objective
now is TIC achieve uniform agree
ment for terminating government
contracts.
Industry leaders hope SUCH an
agreement will:
l. Insure quick resumption o.
automobiles and trucks and maxi
mum employment during the i'm
mediate postwar period;
2. Avoid Il chaotic scramble
among once-vigorous competitors
eager to fill the demands of new
car buyers.
Forms Committee
Alvan Macauley, president of the
Automotive Council for War Pro-
duction, has named committee of
IL executives to formulate a plan
80 that the underbrush of con-
fusion and uncertainties cnn be
cleared away well in advance" He
said the working capital of thou
sands of firms whose resources have
been pooled on the war program
may be jeeopardized by undue de-
lay" in settling its contracts with
the government.
1t is no secret that the industry
hopes to expand its postwar pro-
duction to as much as so per cent
over 1941 output of 100000 cars.
To do so manufacturers are seeking
assurances they will not be held up
unnecessarily by failure to clear
plants of government-oWned raw
materials, parts and equipment.
George T. Christopher, forth
right president OF the Packard
Motor Car Co., has emphasized
that the only way to achieve quick
re-conVerSion to civilian produc-
ton is for industry and government
to make policy decisions now.
Industry" he said, must plan
it's postwar production lines SO it
will be prepared to move quickly
into peacetimes manufacturing
when it receives the green light.
The government must provide the
necessary legal steps to demobilize
its war production functions as
soon as peace comes"
Christopher believes the paper
work" should be completed now
Postponement of this function un-
til after the war, he said, will delay
employment.
Christopher estimated Packard S
postwar production will be one
third greater because of better utili-
cation of floor space and more
efficiently planned production
lines" He warns, however, that the
public probably will have to do
without some of the automobile
styles to which it had grown accus-
toned before Pearl Harbor.
Before the war, he explained, a
customer could walk into an automo-
bile showroom and choose diff
ferent body types, paint schemes,
upholstery, black Or sidewall tires,
heaters, radios, etc. After the war,
he said, a motorists choices will be
pared down considerably in the in
terests of greater production.
zone way to speed production, y
Christopher said, sis to offer fewer
selections. Well concentrate first
on a smaller number of body styles
Simplification of body styles and
car trim will allow the manufac-
turing concentration that can help
avoid sharp dips in the employ
ment curve"