BIG MUNITIONS EFFORT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 22 June 1940, Page 7

BIG MUNITIONS EFFORT

RAPID PROGRESS IN AUSTRALIA Announcing the end of “hush-hush policy” in munitions manufacture, Sir Frederick Stewart, Minister for Supply, revealed details of the enormous expansion of Government munitions plants at a Press inspection of small arms ammunition factories at Footscrap (states the Melbourne “Argus”). Output of shells of all types is to-day 13 times greater than 12 months ago; bomb output is 20 times greater; cartridge cases five times greater; fuses and primers for shells seven times greater: and small arms ammunition now four times greater and by the end of the year will be doubled again. Australia, declared Sir Frederick Stewart, is already making more small arms ammunition than Canada, which is producing 75,000,000 rounds a year.

Government munitions factories in Victoria alone cover 510 acres. S.A.A. factory No. 1 is working from 6 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. six days a week, and 1.200 operatives are employed. Factory No. 2. non-existent a year ago, already has 150 at work, and will have 1,500 in a few weeks. In parts of the factory machines have been installed and are in operation before floors have been completed.

In the course of the inspection every process of the manufacture of small arms ammunition from the casting of metal ingots to the packing of tested cartridges ready for use was seen. Beginning as small metal disks, cartridge cases, whether for ordnance or small arms, and bullets alike moved through machine after machine, thousands and countless thousands of them, taking ever more menacing form and shape as they moved. Now and then above the noise of the machines sounded a sharp rattle of rifle or machinegun fire from the testing ranges. All the small arms ammunition made in these factories is what is known as “red label” stuff —ammunition made with more than ordinary care, and suitable for use in the synchronised ma-chine-guns of aircraft as well as in rifles. Test after test is made in the course of manufacture to ensure absolute accuracy. Ironically enough, two of the most valuable machines in the factories — automatic gauging machines which assure an accuracy the human eye cannot approach, and eliminate the need of scores of hands, were made in numbers ftom German patterns—one type from a German model which actually arrived :ri Australia after the war began. MACHINE PRECISION Here is mass production at frenzied intensity. The work is done by machines. Hands—apart from a relatively few skilled craftsmen, returned soldiers for the most part—are girls whose tasks is merely to tend the machines. Machines set the tempo. Human beings keep pace. For 17$ hours a day, six days a week. In the fuse manufacturing factory things are different. Here many skilled turners are working on lathes. But even here machines take the places of men. Two automatic lathes have been installed. Tended by one skilled man. each oi them does the work of 20 tradesmen at 20 hand lathes. Mure will follow as soon as they car. be obtained from America. In the lasi wai it must be remembered, Australian troops were sent abroad largely without equipment. Today. not only is Australia arming her own legions, but is producing cartridges and shells and bombs for Britain.