Importance of Shipbuilding to New Zealand

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 45, 22 February 1945, Page 5

Importance of Shipbuilding to New Zealand

PEACETIME COASTAL FLEET NECESSARY (Per press Association.) AUCKLAND, Fab. 21. “We have established a reputation overseas and the construction of ships for tho Eastorn Supply Group is now being undertaken,” stated Mr. F. B. Bertrand, on behalf of the ship and boatbuilding and ship repair industry in Auckland before the Railways and Coastal Shipping Committee to-day. Mr. Bertrand contended that the retention of tho shipbuilding industry which wus dependent on a largo peacetime and coastal shipping fleet was of national importance in tho event of future hostilities. The coastal fleet should be large enough to allow ships to be taken for war purposes without undue interference with vessels carrying out essential service, said witness. From the beginning of the present war industries in the North Island had been imperilled owing to vessels normally engaged in carrying coal being commandeered for defence purposes. Apart from the Eastern Supply Group inquiries had been received from the Netherlands East Indies Government for a considerable number of vessels similar to certain types at present under construction in Auckland. “In the past two years over 1000 vessels from many countries have been repaired in New Zealand,” continued the witness. Approximately 1650 men depended on the shipbuilding and repair industry foi* their livelihood and received over £600,000 yearly in wages. It was disclosed by Mr. T. F. Anderson, secretary Of the Seamen’s Union, that there was in existence a comprehensive report on shipping conditions in Allied and neutral countries and theif plans for the future. This report, he said, showed that of all such countries New Zealand had ho plans for her shipping. in May 1939 the defence authorities had considered small coastal ships would not serve any useful purpose in wartime, but events had proved that they were .very wrong indeed.