Turning Scrap Iron Into Munitions

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 271, 16 November 1942, Page 4

Turning Scrap Iron Into Munitions

VALUE OF SALVAGE TO DOMINION’S DEFENCE Per Press Association WELLINGTON, Nov. 15. The splendid mortars now being used by the Army contain material which a year ago was scrap, said the Minister of Supply (Hon. D. G. Sullivan) to-night, emphasising the need for continued and exteuded salvage of waste materials. He said “Our munitions programme included the manufacture of two-inch and three-inch mortars. At one time, due to tho delay in securing supplies of metal a number of old axles from one of our railway workshops were refabricqtcd and used in mortars.” Mr. Sullivan said many of the bodies of grenades made in New Zealand came from scrap iron gathered in salvage drives. As instances of the use being made of rubber gathered in similar drives tho Minister said reclaimed rubber was being used in repairing gumboots for farmers and workers in essential industries for whom it was now impossible to import gumboots. Soles for footwear and thousands of batten' boxes for radio apparatus required by the Armed Forces will be made from reclaimed rubber which will also be used to retread tyres, to make washers required in industry and for many other purposes.

Mr. Sullivan emphasised that the Controller of Salvage was working in close collaboration with the Director of Production and that what was waste to the individual was vital raw material to industry. The various salvage drives were not spasmodic efforts but part of a carefully-planned campaign.