Evening star., 1951-09-05
u. ). Asks Court
For Writ 10 Halt
Copper Strike
Shortage May Bring
New Curbs; Steel
Allowances Cut
BULLETIN
BULLETIN

The Government today asked
United States District Court in
Denver for an injunction to end
the strategic copper strike for
at least 20 days.
A desperate shortage of copper
created in part by strikes in West
ern mines and smelters may fur
ther curtail allotmentS to indus.
try, Administrator Manly Fleisch-
mann of the National Production
Authority announced today.
Steel allowances for ordinary
consumer goods were cut to So
per cent of the pre-Korea level,
and If the copper strike continues
there may be further cuts in au-
tomobiles, radios, washing ma
chimes and other durable con-
sumer items, Mr.. Fleischmann
said.
I'VE are entering a very, very
serious time during the last of
this year and the first quarter
OF next year." Mr.. Fleischmann
said. THE shortage of copper
especially is creating desperate
situation"
Demand Doubles Supply.
The cut on steel, effective Oc-
tober /, was lower than that fore
cast. The NPA administrator ex-
planned that the demand for steel
is now running about twice the
supply on hand.
For the time being, however.
the administration hopes to main
tain allotments of other metals
for the production of consumer
durable goods at approximately
the level set for the last quarter.
Mr.. Fleischmann said.
The whole allotment schedule
must be reviewed if the paralyzing
strikes continue in the mines and
IsmelterS producing non-ferrous
metals. The Government already
has been forced to withdraw some
copper from the strategic stock
pile, the administrator pointed
out.
The announcement came as
Federal attorneys began work
looking to a court order to end
the copper strikes which have
been plaguing the Nations econ
omy for the last 80 days.
The order probably will be
asked today. it was said.
Other Steps Taken.
Other steps being taken to
remedy the situation included:
/. Manufacturers have been told
TO give priority to the military, the
Atomic Energy Commission and
machine tool makers.
| 2. Efforts are being made to step
up the imports of copper through
agreement with other consumer
nations. Copper is now scarce
throughout the free world, and
the metal is selling abroad at a
price well above that set for the
domestic market.
3. Efforts are being made to
standardize and simplify manu-
featuring processes to conserve
scarce metals.
The automobile industry, now
receiving so per cent of the raw
materials used normally, is one
Iof the heaviest consumers of
copper.
About 40 pounds goes into the
average automobile while some
trucks require as much as 400
pounds.
Other heavy consumers are COM
munications networks, public util-
tiles, manufacturers of electrical
supplies and the building indus
try.
Emergency Measure.
Mr. Fleischmann said the with.
drawal Of copper from the stock.
pile is purely an emergency meas.
Iure, and must soon be halted and
the loan repaid, even if that
means further cuts in the pro-
duction Of durable consumer
goods
The NPA administrator said
that most essential consumer
goods have been divided into two
categorieS to assure the highest
production possible under the
circumstances.
For example, porcelain electric
(See COPPER, Page A-14.)