N.Z. MUNITIONS

Grey River Argus, 11 February 1941, Page 8

N.Z. MUNITIONS

Growing Output . IMPORTANT PART OF WAR EFFORT. |i WELLINGTON, February 8. The production of munitions has now become an important part in New Zealand's war effort. The extent of this enterprise was outlined by I he Minister for Munitions and Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan). “The full extent of the nations achievement in the manufacture oi the machinery of war can never be fully revealed during the war. and there can be no exchange by the combatants of such valuable information while the struggle rages,” said t ie Minister. “A number of engineering firms are now engaged in the production of war material of varying descriptions. Some of these are produc ing component parts, as. lor instance in the case of hand grenades. hese parts are being delivered Io a cent l al point for final assembly and Idling with explosives. “Several hundred thousand war munition units are now in production . and some of those have already bee completed. A riveted t>pe 0. ie ! a U n carriers required for training purposes is being manufactured a Government workshops: A large number are in an advanced stage of production. An even larger number of the welded type of universal carriers arc on order, and contracts covering various sections of this work hare been placed with numerous New Zealand firms. These firms are organising preparatory woik so that speedy I production will be possible immediately the materials a r e available. “On completion of section work, these carriers will be finally assembled on bass production lines. Several hundred three-inch trench mortars are also in production, the first order being in an advanced stage of manufacture in the Government workshops. The final assembly will be undertaken within a short time, and the balance of this first order will be asesmbled by a large private factory from completed sub-sections supplied by Government works and private engineering firms. “Preparatory work in the manufacture of high explosive and smoKC bombs for three-inch mortars has been completed, and orders have been placed with IS firms throughout the Dominion. To enable the machining of these bomb body casings to be carried out to meet delivery requirements, suitable groups have been set up, necessitating the hiring from private owners of lathes not in full use and installing them at central points. Eight groups have been established ready for maximum output when castings become available.” added Mr Sullivan. “An Army order for several hundred thousand ammunition charge clips is on order, and the necessary dies, annealing furnaces and gauges are practically complete. On receipt of special steel on order from the United States, production will begin immediately. An Auckland firm hold-' ing an order for the supply of several thousand mess tins has-com-pleted the manufacture of the necessary dies, and sufficient material has just arrived from Australia to enable production to begin. A number of component parts for steel helmets are to be manufactured by private firms, and will be fitted to steel helmet, bodies which are due to arrive shortly from Australia. ' “T o increase the production of small arms ammunition, the Government has decided to duplicate the existing factory operated by the Colonial Ammunition Company- at Auckland. The new buildings are well advanced, and will be completed next month, when the machinery will be available for installation. When this new Government factory is in full production, the present rate of production of .303 ammunition will be doubled, thus fulfilling the small arms ammunition requirements of the New Zealand armed forces. “A request from Britain- for the establishment of the linen flax industry in the Dominion has been fully met. The manufacture of the necessary harvesting machinery and that for treating crops has bOen carried out by the Government and private workshops. Sites were selected in the South Island for the establishment of buildings to house the machinery. 1 o date, 90 pullino- machines, 11 de-seed-ing machines, six scutchers, nine tow-, shakers, two seed cleaners, and 2i) flax carts have been completed, thus enabling harvesting to proceed without] delay. The equipping of factories is progressing as they become ready lor the installation of boilers and machinery. On account of the difficulty being experienced in Australia with a similar type of machinery, a flax puller and a de-seeder manufactured in New Zealand have been shipped there to assist them in this connexion. “To conserve petrol stocks, gasj producer units have been fitted to| Railway Department buses and other! Government vehicles and are in satistory vehicles, and others will be converted as soon as possible. i “An order for cordite containers' for the Navy Department is in an advanced stage of production. Manufactured component parts are complete, and the final assembly will be proceeded with immediately on receipt] of brass sheet from Australia. The work of filling hand grenades, mor-' tar bombs, etc., with explosives will! be carried out in part of the premises of a large motor assembling factory acquired for the purpose, and suitable equipment, air conditioning plant, etc., have .been installed. Every precaution has been taken to ensure that the work will be carried out under the regulations pertaining to the safe handling and custody ol explosives. “An experimental heavy tank, adapted to a caterpillar tractor, has been completed by the Public Wm.'ks Department and has been tested and approved by the Army authorities. Various types of munitions must be manufactured exactly to drawings and specifications. Numerous gauges are necessary for use by the manufacturers and Army inspection olli-; cers, and, on account of the large] number involved, the work has been] spread throughout the Dominion by] utilising Railway Department w?rk-| shops, private engineering firms, and technical school workshops. I *“The immediate requirements ol the Navy are being met by the con-j’ struction of minesweepers at Ai'ck---land. Engines from obsolete clijrjsi

are being used to meet the needs ol the service at the earliest possible moment, and designs will be adopted which will enable these boats to be used as trawlers at any future 'late. The large increase in shipbuilding throughout the world has also made it necessary to build additional minesweeping trawlers of an improved I type, and this work will be proceeded with immediately drawing” ■•. tie I available. ! “As a result o£ a delegation of New Zealand representatives, under the leadership of Major-General Sir John Duigan, to the Eastern Group Conference held at New Delhi, a specially selected group of British technicians examined the industrial possibilities of New Zealand with a view Io assisting the Empire effort in connexion with requirements overseas as well as lor the defence of the 'Dominion. These experts are reporti ing their findings to the Imperial 'Government, who, it is expected, in 'due course will establish programmes [suitable of fulfilment in New Zealand to Ilic conditions and materials available. “Associated with the munition work now in hand throughout New Zea- ! land has come the problem of the I supply of suitably trained labour to I carry out various operations. The Government inaugurated a scheme i which provides additional facilities for the training of auxiliary workers, A four months’ training course in trades associated with the engineering industry is now proceeding at Wellington Technical College and the scheme will be extended in the engineering industry to other centres as soon as practicable.”