Show Forecast Hints Newsprint Supply Increase V WASHINGTON ASHINGTON March 2 1 UP jp- jp The first cheering word about newsprint In many months went out to publishers Thursday Thursday an of official but elaborately hedged forecast forecast forecast fore fore- cast that the supply might in increase increase increase in- in crease after midyear An Improvement In pulpwood production Is possible the situation situation situation sit sit- should not deteriorate further further further fur fur- ther there may be some improvement improvement im im- provement In the second half haIr of oC 1944 This summation was given i en out Wednesday by Harold Boeschen- Boeschen stein of the forest products products products prod prod- bureau of the war production board following a closed meeting with the newspaper industry advIsory advisory advisory ad ad- committee This message was coupled with witha a wa warning that military demands demands' for paper and paperboard might be Increased A material boost in the demand for military packaging packaging packaging pack pack- aging of of munitions and supplies would dim the outlook Boeschen- Boeschen stein said But the report was taken to mean at least that allotments of newsprint would not be smaller in the thu second quarter of the year starting April 1 than In the present present present pres pres- ent quarter and that there was hope for an increase in allocations for the quarter st starting July 1 The advisory ory committee committe made up of newspaper executives took steps themselves to plug any leaks in newsprint control They formally formally formally for for- mally recommended that W P B enforce strict compliance with paper paper paper pa pa- per controls This action followed the report that a few newspapers had used more than their quota of newsprint newsprint newsprint news news- print W V P B said although compliance compliance compliance com com- has been most general and complete It was noted that the penalty may be fine and imprisonment imprisonment im im- or the denial of newsprint newsprint newsprint news news- print and other materials under priority control said a surplus of ot tons of newsprint appears indicated for the present quarter but that any such surplus of production production production pro pro- over use will be absorbed by future orders and inventories Continuance of a hard-boiled hard policy on the granting of extra newsprint over regular allotments was shown In the report that only 70 appeals for additional paper had lad been granted of filed Less than third one-third the appeal tonnage asked was granted |