MADE IN NEW ZEALANDMUNITIONS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 146, 22 June 1915, Page 4

MADE IN NEW ZEALANDMUNITIONS

TO THE EDITOR. j Sir, — The opening of your columns to the discussion of the subject of the manufacture in the Dominion of munitions of war js regarded by a great number of your readers with feelings of thankfulnpss. The Minister of Defence has stated that though the Government ha« asked whether morp cannot be done by New Zealand, the Imperial Government has not asked us to supply munitions. Then you have given the opinion of an "Xpert regarding the difficulties of making shells. I submit that the ques tion is not answered by either of these gentlemen, or by both combined. Tho question is: Has New Zealand made an offer to the Home Government to manu» facture munitions? And a further ques tion is : Can we not do much, even if we cannot make complete shells? Instead of entering into a long discim eiori about details, I prefer to call the attention of both gentlemen to the recent cablegram informing us that the railway works at Newport, Australia have already commenced the manufacture of munitions. As a practical mechanical engineer, I assert that New Zealand can do what Australia can, though perhaps not in such great quantity. New Zealand has another opportunity of showing her practical loyalty. Are we going to let it go by for the lack of a little energy? The sanction of the authorities is all that is necessavy for the work to be started forthwith. We have the shops, the machinery, and the men. All that la needed is to set them in motion. —I am, etc., E. S. BALDWIN. Wellington, 21st June.