MANUFACTURE OF SHELL FUSES

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23477, 4 November 1941, Page 6

MANUFACTURE OF SHELL FUSES

Government Accepts Huge Contract

“ASTRONOMICAL OUTPUT”

(PA.) DUNEDIN. November 3. A huge contract for the manufacture of shell fuses, a contract which will possibly affect every engineering establishment in the country, and which will require the most modern precision machinery, has been accepted by the New Zealand Government This an nouncement was made to-night by tne Minister for Supply and Munitions (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan), who said in an interview that as a result of the arrangement made the Dommion would become a key factor m the Empires munitions-making programme. “The fuses will be turned out under a system of mass production and shipped to various parte of the Empire?’ the Minister said, “thereby contributing materially to the gaining of supremacy in the air, on the land. ana the sea, so far as physical supplies of munitions are concerned. 'Die output asked for is astronomical in its proportions. and the adaptability of our workers, plus the efficiency of our organisation will, we know from preliminary tests, achieve the desired reSU “As the quantity of brass and other materials involved is small, and there is but little shipping space required in transporting the raw materials. New Zealand has been entrusted with this very important major task. The chief factor in the production of the fuses is extreme accuracy, and very little material is required,” Mr Sullivan said. “On the other hand, a very large amount of detailed work is needed. Intelligent labour, male and female, can be trained to perform this important and exacting task. The instruments and tools to be used are very valuable, and I need hardly stress that we are indeed fortunate that our workers should have been given the opportunity to become proficient in the use of the precision machines neces--53 The Minister added that two things were essential —the best use of existing plant, and the provision of new plant. Just which course was being followed, and where the facilities so provided were located, it was not expedient to disclose, but he could say that New Zealand to-day was completing preparations for what could be termed its first real job in mass production, and to an extent that made it a major undertaking. The scope of, the Dominion’s work in making munitions had necessitated the mobilisation of facilities in engineering, and the creation of new phases of activity. The Eastern Group Supply Conference, out of which had come the Eastern Group Supply Council, had given the fullest possible scrutiny to the capabilities, resources, and potentialities of the various countries represented. Strong representations were made by the New Zealand delegation to the original conference, and as a result of this a delegation from the British supply mission visited New Zealand to investigate the full capacity of the Dominion's existing and likely resources. As an outcome of this. New Zealand was entrusted with a task of the utmost importance to the Empire as a whole.