SHELL MAKING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 172, 20 July 1916, Page 11

SHELL MAKING.

AUSTRALIA CANNOT TvELP. BRITAIN'S MESSAGE. MELBOURNE, -lune 0. The Minister of Defence. Senator Pearce. announced to-day that, as the extension of time lor completion of contracts for the manufacture and supply of 18-pouiider shells, granted by thp Imperial Government, expired on June 30. the manufacture of shells throughout Australia ceased on tLat date. Tlie Commonwealth Government asked the Imperial Government whether the. Australian engineering firms could turn from their work on IS-poimdi-r shells to the manufacture of shells of higher calibre. The British Minister for Munitions replied that there are amnle quantities of shell of email calibre available. arrangements for the full ~npply of larger shells have heen completed, ensuring all requirements being mot. and in view o f the difficulties of keeping manufacturers in the Dominions informed of frequent changes in (Details of design and manufacture, and of tap lack of special plant and tools to enable high-calibre shells to be produced, in -addition to transport difficulties, it i= impracticable for Australia to assist in tiiis direction-.- The Minister for Munitons considers that Australia can be-?t help the Imperial fiovernmrnt by providing for her commercial requirements c> T the local production of goods now im ported from Britain, thus relieving the strain on British factories and on shipping space.