NEW MINESWEEPERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 143, 19 June 1941, Page 5

NEW MINESWEEPERS

CONSTRUCTION PLANS

IfARDS AT PORT CHALMERS

;<P.A.)

CONTRACT LET

DUNEDIN, June 18.

Within 24 hours of the announcement by the Minister of Supply and Munitions (Mr. Sullivan) that four minesweepers are to be built' at Port Chalmers, a contract had been let to the Love Construction Co., Ltdi, for the erection of shipbuilding yards which will be permanent and will be capable of accommodating very much larger vessels than minesweepers. It is certain that when the four vessels have been completed further ships of similar and larger types will be built at Port Chalmers.

The Minister has accepted an invitation to be present to drive the first • rivet when the keels of the first two (.vessels are laid on September 1.

Mr. James Fletcher, managing direcftor of the Fletcher Construction Co., *has. accepted an appointment from i Stevenson and Cook, who will build the minesweepers, to organise the whole of their shipbuilding programme and, in an interview, he stated that a contract had been let to the lowest the Love Construction Co., Ltd.'i for the erection of the buildings. The planning of the shipyard would follow lines recently adopted in the United States, where it was the practice completely to house the slipway on which vessels were built and to provide for overhead electric travelling cranes for the handling of all materials.

"The -Port Chalmers yard," he said, "is being laid down as a permanent shipbuilding yard and will b ye able to accommodate vessels of very much larger size than the minesweepers for which ■ Stevenson and Cook have re-ceived-a contract." .

The contractors for the buildings, he added, had undertaken to complete them by the end of August.

"One of the most serious problems still to be solved is that of labour," .Mr. Fletcher said, "and as soon as the erection of the buildings has progressed sufficiently, a call will be made for all classes ■of labour. It is expected that there will be no difficulty in securing the' necessary staffs, as the conditions -trader which the men, will be working will ensure continuous employment swithbut loss of time through bad weather. . ■ ''•■'. :.■' '■, , ;