CANADA’S WAR EFFORT

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23087, 1 August 1940, Page 7

CANADA’S WAR EFFORT

Further Production Planned GREAT DRIVE FOR MUNITIONS (UNITED TEESS ASSOCIATION —COrTSIOHT.) (Received July 31, 1.10 p.m.) OTTAWA. July 30. The Minister for Munitions (Mr C. D. Howe) in the Canadian House ot Commons, said that Canadian factories are expected to turn out 360 aeroplanes and 30 tanks a month, by early in 1941. Eight factories are working on 3200 aeroplanes, of which 257 have been delivered. Contracts involve 110.000. dollars. A further production programme, materially increasing output, is being discussed between Canada and Great Britain. Canada at present is producing GOO mechanised units a day, for which Canadian orders alone represent 54.500.000 dollars. Britain, India, and South Africa are buying largely. British orders of Canadian tanks total 63.000. dollars. Canada is rapidly achieving a selfcontained navy. Fourteen thousand persons are employed in shipyards and associated industries, and before the end of the year 28 anti-submarine vessels and five minesweepers will "be completed. The programme provides for 54 anti-submarine vessels for Canada. 10 for the Royal Navy, and 28 minesweepers for Canada. Mr Howe said that Canada was experimenting in the manufacture of aeroplane instruments and metal propellers. It had been decided not to attempt to make engines in Canadh. Machine tools had been produced decently in volume challenging the imagination. Production of manufactured goods was the largest in history, but was small compared with the construction programme involving a capital cost of 120,000,000 dollars. Canada would have a productive capacity of 500.000. dollars annually. The munitions programme involves the manufacture of Lee Enfields. Brens, Colt, and Browning aircraft machineguns and sub-machine-guns, t\Vopoundci* anti-aircraft guns, 25-pounder quickfirers, 40 ; lillimetre Bofors antitank guns, 3.7 anti-aircraft guns, antitank rifles, and 20 millimetre HispartoSuiza aircraft cannon. A very big gun plant, manufacturing 25-pounders and heavy naval guns involving a capital investment of 10,000,000 dollars, will be producing before the end of the year, There are now 14 plants producing shells, including 4-millimetre shells, 18 and 25-pounder, 3.7, 4.5, 6, and 9.3-incb shells. Orders for Ammunition Total ammunition orders ate 69.000. dollars, of Which 9,000.000 dollars are capital expenditure. Orders are being immediately increased by 33.000. dollars, involving the production of several million shells, and orders for small arms ammunition total 19,000,000 dollars. Explosives plants will begin in September, producing T.N.T. and nitro-cellulose rifle cordite. Capital investment in these plants will be 30,000,000 dollars. A plant is being constructed for the manufacture of optical glass, gunslght predictors, etc. Production of aluminium is being doubled. The operation of the entire programme is in the hands of the Allied war Supplies Corporation, which is operating secondary chemical and other industries incidental to the programme, and is thus responsible fbf the administration of new capital investments totalling 110.000.000 dollars, Mr Howe added that the general buying, including clothing, food, and equipment for troops, totalled 245.000. dollars, of which 217,000,000 was being spent in Canada, 22,000,000 in the United Kingdom, and 6,700,000 in the United States. Ninety per cent, of the air scheme facilities have been completed. An extension of the original plan is Under consideration, increasing the programme to 120 separate projects, of which 77 are being built, requiring 47 new aerodromes and extension to 30 existing airports. The anticipated cost of the 77 projects already approved is 15,500,000 dollars. Last week factories turned out 25 aircraft The Minister for Agriculture (Mr J. G. Gardiner) said that every unmarried Canadian between 21 and 45 may be compelled to do 30 days’ militarytraining within a year. “There is no reason why Canada should not train 1.000. men and still operate its primary and secondary industries.” Mr Gardiner said. . “Possibly the calling up of unmarried men between 21 and 25 will satisfy the requirements of the first year. Ihe only exemptions would be judges, clergy, police, and firemen. Employers would be required under a Penalty to re-employ the trainees.” Mr Gardiner added that Canada was in a better position than ever before to supply foodstuffs to the United Kingdom. All surpluses would be needed sooner or later. ROYAL AIR FORCE DECORATIONS LONDON, July 30. More than 80 officers and men of the Royal Air Force have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross or Distinguished Flying Medal, including the Distinguished Flying Medal for the New Zealanders, Squadron Leader E. W. Whitley, of Auckland, Pilot Officer lan Parsons, of Christchurch, Pilot Officer N. H. Svendsen, of Pukekohe, and Pilot Officer K. W. Trigance, ofTemuka, and the Distinguished Flying Medal for Sergeant R. A. Reece, of Christchurch, and Sergeant, E. P. Williams, of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Auckland. Pilot Officer lan Parsons was educated at Christchurch Boys’ High School and played for the Old Boys’ senior Rugby fifteen for two or three seasons before leaving for England in 1933 to join the Royal Air Force. He was stationed at various Ait Force bases in Yorkshire with the rank of flight sergeant. In 1938-39 he played as full-back in both the Yorkshire County and Royal Air Force Rugby teams. Selected in The Rest team to play England, he impressed the selectors so favourably that he was chosen to represent England in the final international match of the season. Pilot Officer K. W, Trigance is a son of Mr and Mrs William Trigance. of Wood street, Temuka. He was born at Temuka 25 years ago, and Was educated at the Temuka District High School. He joined the staff of the South Canterbury Power Board as a meter reader, and was stationed at Temuka and Walmate before he left ih October, 1037, to join the Royal Air Force. He took part in recent bottbI ing raids over Norway. 1 Sergeant Robert Asher Reece is the son ot Mr and Mrs C. H. Reece, of Huntsbury Hill, Christchurch. He is 25 years of age. He was educated at the Christchurch Boys’ High School and left for England to join the Royal Air Force in 1938. He qualified as a bomber and navigator, and was recently engaged in reconnaissance flights, from England. i