TO BUILD SHIPS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 127, 31 May 1941, Page 10

TO BUILD SHIPS

WALSH ISLAND YARD

STATE PREMIER'S PLEDGE

(0.C.) SYDNEY, May 24. Deserted and desolate for eight years,- Walsh Island Dockyard and shipbuilding centre, near Newcastle (N.S.W.), will soon be transformed again into a throbbing hive

of industry. The New South Wales Labour Premier, Mr. McKell, has already taken steps to place the

shipyards in commission again,

The Minister for Works, Mr. Cahill, will visit the dockyard next Wednesday and will make his report to the Cabinet the following week. "We mean to get on with the job at Walsh Island in accordance with our election promise that shipbuilding will be resumed," said Mr. McKell.

Industrialists at Newcastle claim that the laying of keels could be begun three months after work was started on the island. If that is so, and Mr. McKell can prove their words, then an astounding position arises. We have been told daily of Britain's urgent need for more ships, and Australian exports of urgently required foodstuffs have been drastically curtailed for want of shipping space. Yet for the 21 months of the war no attempt has been made either by the Federal authorities or the previous State Government to refit the dockyard.

In the last war between 2000 and 3000 men were employed. Walsh Island then had a self-contained plant, but most of the material had to be obtained from Great Britain. Now, however, plates are being rolled by the Broken Hill Pty., and steam and water-piping, small gauge steel plates and forgings are being turned out by Australian firms.

There are two problems for the Government, replacement of machinery and the engagement of the necessary technical staff. It is understood that the machinery can now be made in Australia, and the fact that a company had considered purchasing the island indicates that the necessary labour was obtainable.