Evening star., 1944-06-18
Nelson Lifts
Restrictions on
aluminium Use
Industry Con Get
Civilian Production
Tools Starting July |
BY JAMES Y. NEWTON.

y
In the most important action
so far looking toward reconver-
sion of American industry to-
peacetime production, chairman
Donald M. Nelson of the War
Production Board last night orr
dered removal of wartime re-
strictions on use of aluminium
and magnesium and announced
that on July all manufacturers
will be allowed to begin acquir-
ing machinery, tools and dies
for civilian production.
A broad policy for progressive
relaxation of WPB restrictions on
civilian manufacture was laid down
by Mr.. Nelson. 1t is based on thu
availability of manpower rather
than the competitive position Of
manufacturers within an industry.
The policy will permit, firms in
loose labor areas to return to
|peacetime work before competitors
lin areas of manpower shortage or
firms with uncompleted war con-
tracts. It also will result, in some
instances In new manufacturers en-
terins q particular field and getting
q head start on firms In business
before the war.
Hard On Many Firms.
Mr.. Nelson's policy rules out plans
such as the one advocated by the
automobile industry whereby all
firms would receive an even start
in producing for the great postwar
market. Mr.. Nelson admitted his
plan would work hardship on many
firms He said this was 'rSrettable
but unavoidable"
Mr.. Nelson also said an order In
preparation will assure any manu-
facturer enough materials and COM
ponents to make and test q single
working model Of any product
planned for postwar production. The
manufacturer win be entitled to
apply to WPB regional ofices for the
necessary materials, which viii be
supplied from either existing sur
pluses or through special ALLEGATIONS.
The WPB chairman said the broad
relaxations Of industrial war con-
Ftrols are necessary to protect ths
Nations economy and enable manu-
facturers to get start on the huge
peacetime production program which
will be required to prevent wide
spread unemployment after the war.
Must Have Backlogs.
This can be done only ii manu-
facturers have large backlogs of
orders for civilian products, Mr..
Nelson said, which they can pro-
ceed to make as soon as manpower
is available. To get such orders,
business usually needs, first, to de-
sign products, build models, blue
print production plans, prepare tools,
dies, machinery and raw material
investories, and contact distributors.
Restrictions which are not essential
to war production and which hamper
lndustry'S preparation for the re-
conversion period need to be lifted
at once"
Mr.. Nelson cautioned that little
expansion of civilian production
can be expected Immediately and,
warned that "the next three months
will in some ways be the most
critical we have yet faced in war
production. He said the man.
power problem has caused some of
the most urgent military programs
to drop behind schedule, and added
I'VE have got to drive harder than
ever before to meet our military
needs"
AS an Illustration of his state
ment that war production is far
from "over the hump" Mr.. Nelson
pointed out that production of tanks
was ordered stepped up greatly last
week because invasion battle ex-
perience showed we would need far
more tanks than we have. In
creases in other munitions pro-
grams undoubtedly will be called
for as we gain more heavy combat
experience, he added.
Will Aid War Production.
Mr. Nelson said he believed that
by removing unnecessary restric.
tons on industry and allowing man.
ufacturers to plan their role in
peace, war production actually
would be helped, An early start
in planning reconversion will show
workers now in war plants that
(see RECONVERSIoN, Page AID