MUNITIONS OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2500, 29 June 1915, Page 6

MUNITIONS OF WAR

. (To the Editor.) Sir, —It would give me the greatest pleasure if I could endorse some of tho remarks made by several of your correspondents in regard to the manufacture of shells. Further, I would be glad to put the whole knowledge and skill of the Colonial Ammunition Co.'s works at the disposal of the Government, if by doing so it would enable us to make shells and big-gun cartridgecases here. But I know the many difficulties in the way, and that time is the main thing wanting. If there was plenty of time (not months, but years) all tho material and necessary machines and hydraulic presses could be imported —lathes are not all that is required, by a long way. Mr. Lloyd George said some weeks ago: "We aro short of shells; wo ( want them; we need them; wo must get them; and whatever you do, I hope you will do quickly." Mr. Lloyd George was speaking to thousands of workers, skilled and otherwise, and I am sure he knew at that time of, literally, streets of machinery standing .idle, not altogether for want of skilled workers, but because each manufactory was not co-operating with the other. He felt it was imperative that every moment of time be utilised in bringing all the Allied ' manufacturers into'unison and concord, so that all the machinery available might at least be kept going part of the ordinary working hours of the day. This was the beginning of a great effort to gradually and quietly worts up to full time; then overtime: and then night shifts; and eventually to utilise the full capacity of the plant and machinery available together with labour, both day and night.

In England, with the world's resources at her door, both in regard to plant and machinery; material and skilled supervisors, skilled labour, anil skilled machine operatives,. any output required was possible, but only by working one with another, shoulder to shoulder, master and man (aye, and women also), as one. a human machine (so to speak) composed of a thousand different parts, yet all striving to produce the same result, i.e., quantity, together with quality and accuracy; the two latter being more important than the former.

In one of the letters published in your journal it was stated that numbers of skilled mechanics had offered their services, including one who had been at Woolwich twenty-live years ago. The tendency at Woolwich and all big manufactories for war material has been to specialise, that is to teach one man one job. He becomes very expert in making any one particularly tool, but lie is lost if you ask liim to go a step further. Probably all artisans or mechanics, skilled or otherwise, who have been inside an ammunition manufactory (for either small arms, ammunition, or big guns) come to our works for employment first, and it is a very rare occurrence, when we are able to pick a man who would be useful, not at once, but say, after three months' careful teaching. No manufactory is built up in a day, more especially those for making war material. We have been some seven or eight years in Australia establishing metal refining and metal rolling mills for making cartridge brass and cupro nickel, the former for the cartridge-case and the latter for the bullet. But it was only last year that our refinery and mills began to turn out any large quantity of metal. Some day we shall have to make our own metal in New Zealand from New Zealand ores. That, however, cannot come to pass till New Zealand mines have developed, so that we may be assured of getting the raw material when we are ill the position to require it. Britain imports most of her metal, .such as copper, spelter, and lead, and many other items necessary for making munitions of war.

When the Government require big gun cartridge-cases and shells we can make them, but not in time to be of any use during the present war. It is purely a questioa of time and money. It would have been most unpatriotic on our part if we had led the Government to believe we could make shells for immediate use. Large sums would have been uselessly thrown away, money which is urgently needed to equip and send off as quickly as possible, well-trained reinforcements. The .Federal Minister for Defence, in to-day's cable massages, admits it is well-trained and well-equipped men that the nation requires from Australia and New Zealand. Both countries have done and are doing their share in supplying brave and intrepid fighting forces, equal to any in the world. It is very gratifying to hear by tho cable news to-day that the supply of ammunition for the troops at the Dardanelles is unlimited. Tho Now Zealand and Australian Governments should bo highly congratulated on not only sending quantities of ammunition with tho troops in the first instance, but also in ke<rping up a regular supply. I give every credit to those who have offered or wish to offer their services gratuitously for the manufactuho of shells. It is this spirit tliat must make Britain and her Allies come out top at the finish. Meantime, let us send what we are able to send, i.e., well-equipped forces to tho front to help to support those who have already so noblv borne the brunt of the great battles of Gallipoli, the memory of which can never die. —I am, etc., CECIL A. WHITNEY. Auckland, June 20, 1915.