REVIVAL URGED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 282, 10 September 1941, Page 3

REVIVAL URGED

SHIPBUILDING IN NEW ZEALAND COMMODORE PARRY’S PLEA. (P.A.) A IT’ TCI.AN D, September 0. A plcn for the revival and expansion of the shipbuilding industry in New Zealand was made by Commodore W. K. Parry (jCdiief of the Naval -Stall) alter the launching of the minesweeper Rimu. Not only would it lie valuable to the Navy, but it would help in the replacement of merchant shipping after the war, lie said. Referring to the difficulty that Jnui been found in securing builders lor naval .ships, Commodore Parry said it was a mystery to him why there were not more shipbuilding yards in .New Zealand. In the old days, there were many yards which built wooden ships, hut since steel construction became general the industry had to some extent languished. “If ever there was a eontry dependent for its life blood on ships it is New Zealand,’’ he added, "let for some reason shipowners needing/ ships have gone overesas.” Jt had been suggested that this was largely because iron was not yet produced in New Zealand. The great advances made by the industry in Australia had been based on the steel industry, and to some extent the Commonwealth had an advantage there, lift very much envied the ships Australia was building, and wished New Zealand could do the same, but now a start was being made. The absence of a. steel industry! was not a real bar. Japan, for instance, was carrying out a huge programme of shipbuilding, yet she had no iron. He felt quite sure that this was an opportunity, that would he taken. He would like to think that this ship and her two sister ships of composite construction marked the transition from wood to steel. The next minesweepers built would be steel, and would incorporate certain apparatus which could not be used in composite ships. A steel ship could hold more than a composite vessel of the same size. Even then, New Zealand should not be content. Corvettes and even destroyers were being built in Australia, and New Zealand could do with larger ships, too. He -felt sure that the time was not far distant when New Zeal anil would be building them. “Even the war ends to-morrow, there will be a big demand for the replacement of merchant losses,” he added. “What a fine thing it would be if New Zealand could build at least part of her own requirements in the future.” Supporting Commodore Parry’s remarks in his address on beliall of the contractors, Mr IL‘. H. Rhodes said many years ago shipbuilding was one of the main industries of the city. A fleet of fast schooners, staunch barques, and barquentines and coasters, under sail and steam, operated from Auckland, built and launched there.