MUNITION MAKING

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 26, 30 July 1940, Page 9

MUNITION MAKING

FIELD IN DOMINION

MR. BURN REPLIES TO MINISTER

OFFER IN NOVEMBER

"The reply made by the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, to my statement published on Saturday under the heading of 'Making of Munitions' in no way explains why New Zealand has not produced a single weapon of defence or offence, excepting .303 ammunition and training aircraft, since war was declared almost twelve months ago," said Mr. R. Burn, managing director of the Precision Engineering Company, Ltd., today. "Nor does it j explain why engineering establishments, railway workshops, and motor j assembly plants in New Zealand have; reduced staffs when England has been working three shifts seven . days a week, and Australia and Canada are doing their utmost to emulate this magnificent effort. "And, may I add, indulgence in personalities will not remedy this unfortunate position. "I repeat that existing engineering establishments are, and have been since the outbreak of war, capable, in skill of men and range of plant, of producing a considerable variety of munitions. "I repeat also, in spite of the earlier statement having been characterised as nonsense: That Stokes mortars and shells, grenades, gun carriers, motorcars, lawn mowers, washing machines, builders and plumbers' hardware are (1) made from the same basic materials (i.e., ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys); (2) fabricated by the same tradesmen (toolmakers, tradesmen, machinists, and process workers); (3) by the same methods and on the same machines (lathes, millers, drillers, shapers, slotters, planers, grinders, and presses); (4) to the same degree of accuracy (Newalls or B.E.S.A. Standards); and that the only difference is in their physical shape. "Mr. Sullivan's tirade against me personally in no way explains away the obstruction, or lack of vision perhaps, of his Departmental officers in refusing to take advantage of the offer made to the secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce, Mr. L. J. Schmitt, by a representative deputation of Wellington engineers in November last —nine months ago—that such establishments should 'tool up' and make patterns and jigs for certain types of munitions fully within their capabilities so that if the necessity arose production could be commenced without delay. That is, the proposal was that the New Zealand engineering establishments should prepare themselves on the basis of the shadow factory plan of Britain or of the annexes in Australia. " "Had that proposal been met in the spirit in which it was made there /would not today be the deplorable de!lay in getting into production on such essential munitions, as rifle grenades, (Stokes^ guns, and .Stakes shells., etc. . . 4iFurther," concluded Mr. Burn,, "had the offer of co-operation in planning and preparation then tendered been accepted, the almost unbelievable position which was disclosed before the Industries Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. J. Hodgens, M.P., on June 13, could not have arisen. "On that date it was admitted to the representatives of the engineering industry present that though a comprehensive list of munitions immediately required had been drawn up there existed in New Zealand —nine months after the outbreak of war and seven months after the industry had made its offer of full co-operation—plans and specifications in respect of one item only. That item was mess.,tins."