SPEEDING UP WORK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 279, 7 September 1936, Page 7

SPEEDING UP WORK.

NEW WAR OFFICE FACTORIES. The War Office in an advertisement gives a striking indication of the Government's determination to lose no time in carrying out its defence proposals, said the “Daily Telegraph” recently. Applications are invited for staffs to design and build file new munition factories in Lancashire, South Wales, and the South of Scotland. It is only a few weeks since Mr Duff Cooper, the Minister for War, on »im.ed in the House of Commons that, following the decision to transfer certain factory activities now carried on at Woolwich Arsenal and Waltham Abbey to localities less open to air attack, sites had been selected at Charley!, Lancashire, and Bridgend, South Wales and these would be used for filling ammunition with explosives, and a- foil'd site in Scotland for an explosives factory was undei consideration. The advertisement states that the new staff wil, in general, be stationed at Woolwich or Waltham Abbey. Some members will be required later to work on the new sites. Posts will be temporary, or the duration of the work which is expected to last not less than two years There will be no gratuity on termination, but here may be a prospect of some of the workers being absorbed into the permanent staff. Men between 30 and 45 are wanted, and, other things being equal, preference will be given to ex-servicemen. The posts advertised include: — An engineer capable of taking charge of the organisation of the engineering staff and services, lay-out, design and construction of a large factory for the manufacture of cordite and other explosives ;a- railway engineer; civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers and assistants; civil engineering, architectural, mechanical, and electrical draughtsmen ; architects ; quantity surveyors and clerks; and land surveyors Decently the War Office bought Water ton Court Farm, a holding of 121 acres, near Bridgend, adjoining the G.W.Ri. main line. Negotiations have also been begun for acquiring over 2000 acres of open land stretching from the outskirts of C-horley, Lancashire, to Euxton and Wliittle-le-Woods, and bordering Leyland. Property and land owners have been informed that, if prices are not satisfactory, compulsory powers will be used. The site is near a big motor works.