Evening star., 1945-08-21
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|Curbs on Many
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210 Already on List;
EorIy End Of Auto
Restrictions Promised
BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE. ],

restrictions Promised
By MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.
Curbs on the number of new
automobiles that may be turned
out in the coming months and
controls over civilian aircraft
production are slated for an
early end in the wake of sweep
ing action by the War Produc-
ton Board lifting 210 other war
time controls over American
industry.
Clearing the way for a speedy re.
turn to peacetime production, WPB
wrote off controls over such long,
sought items as trucks, radios, refrig-
orators, metal furniture, electric
fans. storage batteries, construction
machinery, oil burners, electric
ranges and stoves.
WPB Chairman Krug said all
other controls are under review and
promised that a large number Of
revocations will be forthcoming in
the next few days.
Farley Halls Action.
In New York, James A. Farley,
chairman of the New York City
Committee for Economic Develop
ment, said today the dropping Of
the 210 controls has put New York
manufacturers in position to
swing at once toward record peace
time production and employment,
the Associated Press reported.
Mr.. Farley said reconversion prob
lens are practically nil in most in.
dustries in the area and manufac-
turers expect to provide in the near
future 81 per cent more employ
ment and produce 42 per cent more
goods than in 1899. Materials, man.
power and machinery are at hand
for attainment of that goal. he said.
Retailers should plan for 40 per
cent more sales than in 1899 and
the construction industry should
plan to build 100000 family dwell
ing units, Mr.. Farley added.
Spare Tires Problem.
One issue delaying authority for
automobile manufacturers to scrap
their original 220,000-car goal for
this year and set an indefinite limit.
insofar as sheet steel and tin will
allow, is the question of whether
the new cars will carry spare tires.
That problem still is being discussed,
Mr.. Krug said
For a car-hungry public, however.
the discussion was academic. The
important thing was that new pas
senger cars soon would be rolling
of assembly lines.
Some 1Zo controls still remain on
WPB books, but all but 40 of these
will be written off in a short time
A few controls are being retained to
prevent big manufacturers from
hoarding needed materials at the
expense of smaller manufacturers.
Large Production Stressed.
The WPB chief said the agency
had stressed to the consumer durable
goods industry the importance to
economic stabilization of large pro-
duction in their line OF goods and
that as result manufacturers had
agreed to turn out as much low-cost
merchandise as they did before the
war.
He also emphasized that while
WPB is removing controls as
promptly as possible, as recon-
mended by President Truman, the
agency intends to keep a careful
watch on effects of all actions taken
and will reimpoSe whatever re.
strictions may become necessary"
Mr.. Krug pledged priorities assist
ance for items that threaten to be.
come bottlenecks in the program to
restore full civilian manufacture,
but only after the applicant has
exhausted all possible means of
helping himself.
The Nation faces a remobiliza-
ton of industry on a scale that
matches the mobilization for war"
Mr.. Krug declared. I'VE have a
tremendous stake in the speed with
which this rehabilitation is &C.
complished.
Antifreeze Control to End.
I'VE do not want to perpetuate
Government controls. We do want
industry to solve its problems in the
traditional American spirit of Let's
get the job DONE"
Other items scheduled to be freed
OF controls in a few days are auto
mobile antifreeze, long a scarce
commodity for motorists, and roof
ing material, essential to home
building.
Earlier yesterday, Mr.. Krug is.
sued an appeal to manufacturers
whose war contracts have been can
celed to abrogate promptly their
own orders for bottleneck items.
This will help speed the flow of
scarce materials into expanding
civilian production, he said.
Mr.. Krug stressed the Importance
OF diverting promptly to civilian in
duStry the following items: Steel
sheet and strip, structural steel,
gray and malleable iron castings.
lumber, shipping containers, electric
motors and cotton broad woven
OOodS