United Nations’ Day Parades Tomorrow

Northern Advocate, 12 June 1942, Page 5

United Nations’ Day Parades Tomorrow

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “On United Nations’ Flag Day the public of New Zealand in most large cities will see a demonstration of our military strength which will undoubtedly be a welcome surprise,” said the Minister for Supply (Mr Sullivan). “What I would ask them to appreciate is the New Zealand munitions production which will be included in the various processions. Over 12 months ago we produced a fleet of Bren gun carriers to a riveted design still in mass production overseas. Then we adopted the Australian welded type of universal carrier, so-called because it is designed to carry not only light Bren guns, but also other machine-guns and mortars and also to transport ammunition to the forces' in forward battlefield areas.

“The universal carrier is a bigger, heavier, more powerful, and faster than a Bren gun carrier. It is sheathect with a bullet-proof plate cut and welded in New Zealand by New Zealanders. At present our organisation is all set to deliver hundreds of these universal carriers monthly. The “Beaverette” Another interesting vehicle in the procession will be the “Beaverette." which. I understand, was named after Lord Beaverbrook who organised its production in England after Dunkirk. Fast Scouting Car “It is a fast scouting car. carrying four or five men, and one or two light machine-guns. In England the vehicle is designed on a 10 ii.p. chassis, but we decided to increase the thickness of the steel Dialing and give more power and speed. The Beaverette was therefore redesigned in New Zealand and is built on a fast truck chassis. Rather than wait for imported steel plate to arrive in New Zealand, workers went ahead and straightened, patched and jointed steel plate salvaged from the Port Bowen which was stranded on Wanganui beach." Armoured Cars “Spectators may also see armoured observation cars, pilot models of which have already been made in New Zealand. “It is a queer-looking job with a bonnet and radiator at the back. “Practically every motor transport in processions will have been assembled in New Zealand factories and will have a body specially designed for its purpose, built by New Zealand craftsmen.

“The public should also remember the less spectacular items of military equipment. Men and women in New Zealand are working long hours to keep up high speed production of mortars, bombs, automatic rifles, submachine guns, shell fuses, grenades, etc. "When looking at well-dressed soldiers. they should remember the workers in woollen mills, clothing factories. tanneries and boot factories."

Concluding, Mr. Sullivan as an instance of speeding up production, said that in the past 16 weeks we had made as much .303 ammunition as we made in the first 16 months of the war. He was satisfied that workers, factory managers and manufacturing companies itt New Zealand should be proud of the war production in regard to both output and quality.