SPECIAL CASTINGS

Evening Post, Issue 2, 2 July 1932, Page 13

SPECIAL CASTINGS

AN AMERICAN DESIGN

WHY RAILWAYS USED THEM

"Buy "British" complains of the fact that several hundred pounds' worth of castings now-being unloaded.at the Hutt AVorkshops are branded "Made in U.S.A." "These castings," he says, "for ,a new type of loco, being produced for the railways, are of a size which makes it impossible for the Department to cast the -job 'in the required material. It 'ivouUl "seem '{hat "this' Atoiild -have given the 'Government an opportunity to live up to the slogan, and, in' a small way, to help the 'engineering /trade .in our Mother , Country;... but for sonic reason, the-order was placed with au American arm." , ■ . , • .

On milking ■ inquiries from the Railway Department, it was found,that, at the time the initial design of the new. type of locomotive referred to was undertaken, tie Department decided to 'embody "booster" equipment on the trailing engine bogie. As British firms did not, at that time.' manufacture "booster"- and trailing bojrie trucks., suitable for "boosters," the designing engineers were compelled to collaborate with the engineers of American manufacturers, in the development of trailing trucks,suitable for New Zealand requirements. The Department could not, in common fairness, utilise the expert technical services of manufacturers of specialised castings and then place the business else where. ; .

, "Your correspondent," states the Department, "can take' it for granted that where preference can be given to the Mother Country it will be given. This is the definite policy of the Government Railways Board." ■ . '