BUILDING STEEL MINESWEEPERS

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23479, 6 November 1941, Page 4

BUILDING STEEL MINESWEEPERS

Mr Sullivan Drives First Rivet (p a ) DUNEDIN, November 5. The initial step in the construction of steel minesweepers in New Zealand was taken today when the Minister for Supply and Munitions (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) drove home a rivet in the first of the five vessels to be built at Port Chalmers. The ceremony, which was largely attended by representatives of local bodies and prominent citizens, was held at the new shipbuilding yards of the contractors, the Stevenson and Cook Engineering Company, Minister paid a tribute to the work already done by the contractors, with whom was associated Mr James Fletcher, and expressed confidence that the construction of the vessels would be well done. “I feel sure that there will be other orders coming from the Government,” he said, “in connexion with this aspect of the war effort." About the middle of June, Mr Sullivan continued, the Government decided to build some all-steel vessels. Arrangements were put in train, and a contract for five was let to Messrs Stevenson and Cook, of Port Chalmers, who had associated with them Mr James Fletcher. Much preliminary work was necessary to prepare sheds and stocks on which to build; but so vigorous was the prosecution of this work that in just two months the contractors could have commenced building had the necessary supplies of steel come to hand from Australia. Owing to delays the shipment did not arrive, and although all the necessary preparations, were made and the work could have commenced on the scheduled date, this was not possible. ‘‘Now the steel has arrived, and the delay has only been one month,” said Mr Sullivan. ‘‘That time lag will, lam confident, be overtaken. The enthusiasm with which the initial work has been done warrants such a premise.” . Engines and boilers were being built for the minesweepers in New Zealand, the Minister said; Material was imported, but their own workmen were fabricating it. The boilers were the largest that could be built with the facilities available in the Dominion.

“The lowering shadows that darken the, Pacific horizon may break into storm, much as we may hope otherwise,” Mr Sullivan said. “The maintenance of morale is of vital importance; but the realities are stark and stern. Selfcomplacency can have no place in our programme. The titanic struggle in Russia has revealed the amazing strength of the Nazis. The stand made by the Russians has won our admiration. As Hitler has thrown all his resources on to the eastern front, he has given us an opportunity to build up our resources.” After referring to the growing production of war materials in New Zealand the Minister said that the story was one of achievement of which the people of the Dominion could be proud. More than 11,000 persons were directly engaged in the production of the sinews of war, and the activity that was being set in train that day was just another cog, a vitally important cog, in the sum total of New Zealand’s contribution to victory. . “We have proved our ability as an industrial nation,” he said, “Our manufacturers and workers have done a splendid job, and the quality of their workmanship is high. Their production has increased, and they have forgone many hard-won privileges. We must go on making, if possible, even greater efforts. If we would retain our religious freedom, if we would hold fast to our cultural heritage, If we would retain our democratic institutions, if we would hand on to our children and to their children a better heritage than we received, then we must cavil at no sacrifice, baulk at no effort, shirk no responsibility that will rid the world of the tyranny of Hitlerism.”