SHIPBUILDING IN NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 295, 10 September 1941, Page 6

SHIPBUILDING IN NEW ZEALAND

Revival And Expansion Urged PLEA BY COMMODORE PARRY ‘ (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, September 9. A plea for revival and expansion of the shipbuilding industry in New Zealand was made by Commodore Parry, Chief of Naval Staff, after,the launching of the minesweeper Rimu. Not only would it be valuable to the Navy, but it would help in replacement of merchant shipping after the war, he said.

Referring to the difficulty that had been found in securing builders for naval ships, Commodore Parry said it was a mystery to him why there were not more shipbuilding yards in New Zealand. In the old days there were many yards which built wooden ships but since steel construction became general the industry had to some extent languished. “If ever-there was a country dependent for its life blood on ships it is New Zealand,” he added. “Yet for some reason shipowners needing ships have gone overseas.” It had been suggested this was largely because iron was not yet produced in New Zealand. The great advance made by industry in Australia had been based on the steel industry and to some extent the Commonwealth had an advantage there. He very much envied the ships Australia was building and wished New Zealand could do the same but now a start was being made in the absence of a steel industry was not a real bar. Japan, for instance, was carrying out a huge programme of shipbuilding, yet she hud no iron.

He felt quite sure this was an opportunity that would be taken. He would like to think that this ship and her sister-ships of composite construction marked the transition from wood to steel. The next minesweepers built would be of steel and would incorporate certain apparatus which could not be used in composite ships. A steel ship could hold more than a composite vessel of the same size. Even then we should not be content. Corvettes and even destroyers were being built in Australia and we could do with larger ships too. He felt sure the time was not far distant when we would be building them. “Even if the war ends tomorrow there will be a big demand for replacement of .merchant losses,” he added. “What a fine thing it would be if New Zealand could build at least part of her own requirements in future.” Supporting Commodore Parry’s remarks in his address on behalf of the contractors, Mr. E. H. Rhodes said many years ago shipbuilding was one of the main industries of the city. A fleet of fast schooners, staunch barques and barquentines and coasters under sail and steam operated from Auckland, built and launched there.