FIRST BREN GUNS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 124, 19 February 1941, Page 7

FIRST BREN GUNS

Australian Output Begins

TRAINING WORKERS

SYDNEY, January 17.

The production of Bren guns in Australia has begun. The Minister for Munitions. Senator Mcßride, received advice last night that the first batch of guns had passed their final firing trials at the Commonwealth Small Arms factory, Lithgow, Mr. Mcßride said the test of tb-e guus represented tlie final stage of a complete chain of iill-Australiun production which was proceeding smoothly and efficiently at Lithgow and engineering shops in four States which had co-operated in the work. “From now onward," lie added, “Bren guns will be turned out in a steady stream to a schedule which wus recently revised, to provide for a large increase in the production objective. The trials were the last in a series to which every gun was subjected before passing into service.”

To establish manufacture of the guns, he said, 72,944 tools ami gauges, including multiple equipment required for large-scale production, had been necessary. They were made from highgrade steel to a precision ranging from lOOOtht to one 10,000 th of an inch. More than 75,000 workers, at least one-third of whom must be skilled artisans, will be needed to staff new munition and aircraft factories in Australia in the next six months. Thousands of men have already been selected and trained for their new jobs, but the engagement of the remainder will impose a severe strain on the labour market. Even now, private industry is experiencing difficulty in obtaining turners, fitters and toolmakers.

The problem is unique in Australia’s industrial history. Many thousands of persons are already employed in the munition and aircraft industries, but this number must be increased enormously. before June if the gigantic armament programme is to continue to schedule.

Though it is now difficult to obtain skilled tradesmen for munition work, the position is not as serious as it would have been had nothing been dune to tackle the problem in its early stages. Fortunately, the shortage was foreseen soon after the outbreak of war, and the Commnowealth Government. witli the assistance of the State Governments, industrialists and labour organization, initiated a technical training scheme which is now bearing fruit.

It was officially announced that, under this wartime scheme, 10,000 men have been, or are being, trained. Only half that number, however, will be available for work in munition factories. Tlie remainder have been trained specially for service in the Army and Air Force.