Evening star., 1943-12-26
WPB Ready 10 Boost
Output Of Simple
Civilian Utilities
1y the Associated Press.

6y the ASSOCIATED Press.
Aimed at silencing one of the
loudest squawks from the home
front, a program for expanded
1914 production of simple and
easy-to-make civilian goods is
about ready to be launched by
the Office of Civilian Require
nnents Of the War Production
Board.
The plan for action developed
after a study disclosed that, while
civilians accept the scarcity of re-
frigerators. washing machines and
other major conveniences, they're
really disturbed about shortages Of
the little things In life," like bobbie
pins. pots and pans, elastic tape and
textile products.
In majority of instances the
OCR has found that the simple
items could be manufactured with
out upsetting any manpower or raw
materials schedules. Only a few
confiicted with vital war production
and OCR is making no recommen-
dation for expanded production of
these items.
Desired Goods Listed.
In the order of Importance, the
goods civilians want most are elastic
tape, satisfactory hosiery, washtubs,
shoes, bobbie pins, sheets, infants
underwear, pals and buckets, chill
dren's clothing, pot scourers, dress
fabrics, alarm clocks, children's
shoes, pins, needles and safety pins.
electric irons, boys overalls, wash
ing machines, flashlight batteries,
knives and forks, clothespins, pots
and pans, elastic girdles and electric
iron cords.
Prospects for adequate production
Of all textile products are fair to
good" The. recent directive of Sta
bilization Director Fred M. vinson.
which permits a complete revision
of price structures to stimulate pro-
duction, will be tried first on tex
tiles.
WPB textile officials are only
lukewarm about the Vinson order
as changes in price structures for
any item must be approved by him
before it is effective, and WPB tex
tile executives think this procedure
will take too much time to get
prompt results.
The OCR is recommending sharp
increases in the production of tex
tile products. Informed sources say
that the expanded production will
be noticeable by the second quarter
Of 1914.
Production Boosted.
Orders already approved have
doubled production of bobbie pins.
Adequate supplies of synthetic rub
ber for tape and eirdles have been
allocated, and these items will be
back in circulation soon after the
first of the year under present plans.
The outlook for womens hosiery
isn't so good. They'll be warm andf
plentiful, of Isle and rayon, but |
the sleek nylons of prewar days
haven't a chance. War needs all
the nylon we produce.
The OCR will recommend doubled
1914 production of washtubs and
comparable increases in pals,
buckets, pots and pans. Steel pros
poets are improving.
Expansion of alarm clock and
washing machine output is highly i
unlikely, the OCR survey indi-
Gates. Alarm clocks are complicated
gadgets and experienced workmen
are occupied with making explosives
timing devices. Washing machines
require electric motors needed
in war goods.
The OCR survey shows that leath-
er and manpoWer for shoe produc-
tion will match 1943 totals, with ex-
pansion unlikely. A shift to produc-
ton OF childrenS shoes may be de-
creed under the Vinson order.
Prospects are good for pot scour-
ers, pins, safety pins and knives and
forks. The outlook for expanded
production of electric irons is only
fair, with copper shortages likely to
hnld tho ioc