NATIONAL PRODUCTION

Evening Star, Issue 23811, 15 February 1941, Page 12

NATIONAL PRODUCTION

FULL CO-OPERATION NECESSARY K 0 TIME FOR PETTY GRIEVANCES [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, February 14. An appeal to every manufacturer and evuiy artisan to pull together and to put every ounce of their energy into their particular work was made by the Alinister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, iq an address at a social held in his honour to-night by the Linwood branch of the Labour Party. “ 1 know I shall not appeal in vain,” ho said. ” This is no time for airing petty grievances or clamouring for the moon when we do not know the day or the hour when we may bo besot by the danger now threatening from without. Notwithstanding the difficulties that confront us wo can accomplish much and thereby give an adequate account of ourselves should the need arise.” MANUFACTURE OF MUNITIONS. Air Sullivan dealt at considerable length with the work of the Ministry of Supply and Munitions upon which his energies were now chiefly centred. “ An earnest effort,” said the Minister “ is being made in this country to equip ourselves with an adequate defence, and world conditions have necessitated a programme of munitions manufacture in which our secondary industries are privileged to play a very important part.” In many quarters, ho said, there had been no real appreciation of what domestic production could achieve, but ho was happy to say that after a great deal of organisation and careful planning some 130 contracts had been let. The basis of the programme of course, the heavy engineering establishments of the railway workshops, where a magnificent effort had boon made in providing other engineering works with inspection gauges, drills, chucks, and a variety of ancillary equipment to enable the contracts to be not only speeded up but also to be carried out with great precision on mass production linos. “ I have just visited the southern engineering works in the various centres,” Mr Sullivan said, “ and I am very gratified with the progress I have witnessed. All concerned are entering upon their respective tasks with great enthusiasm, realising the vital nature of the work in maintaining our national welfare. MASS PRODUCTION. “It gives one a sense of greater security,” ho added, “ when one sees the excellence of the job being done. Batteries of lathes and drilling and grinding gear, have been brought together to enable the advantages of mass production to bo secured, but greater and still greater effort is required. Wc need the earnest co-operation of every employer and worker in the land, and I *m sure we are now getting it. A largo mooting of raihvaymon pledged to mo their assistance in every possible way, and I know from my experience of them and from the things they have already done that they moan what they say, and that they will do their utmost to advance the common cause.”