REVIVAL AND EXPANSION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 10 September 1941, Page 8

REVIVAL AND EXPANSION

SHIPBUILDING IN NEW ZEALAND ) PLEA BY COMMODORE PARRY Auckland, Sept. !). A plea for revival and expansion of the shipbuilding industry in New Zea - land was made by Commodore Parry, Chief of Naval Staff, after (he launching of the minesweeper Rimu. Not only would it be valuable to (lie Navy, but it would help in replacement of merchant shipping after tlie war, he said. Referring to the difficulty that had been found in securing builders fotnaval ships. Commodore Parry said it was a mystery to him why there were not more shipbuilding yards in New Zealand. In the old daf s there were many yards which built wooden ships but since steel construction became general the industry had to some extent languished. ‘‘lf ever there was a country dependent for its life blood on ships it i" New Zealand,” he added. "Yet for some reason shipowners needing ships have gone overseas.” It had been suggested this was largely because iron was not yet produced in New Zealand. The great advance made by the industry in Australia had been based on th 2 steel industry and to some extent the Commonwealth had an advantage there. He very much envied the ships Australia was building and wished New Zealand could do the same but now a start was being made the absence of a steel industry was not a real bar. Japan, for instance, was carrying out a huge programme of shipbuilding, yet she had He felt quite sure this was an opportunity that would be taken. lie would like to think that this ship and her sister-ships of composite construction marked the transition from wood to steel. The next minesweepers built would be of steel and would incorporate certain apparatus which could not be used in composite ships. A steel ship could hold more than a composite vessel of the same size. Even then we should not be content. Corvettes and even destroyers were being built in Australia and we could do with larger ships too. He felt sure the time was not far distant when we would be building them. ‘‘Even if the war ends to-morrow there will be a big demand for replacement of merchant vessels,” he added. “What a fine thing it would be if New Zealand could build at least part of her j own requirements in future.” Supporting Commodore Parry’s re- ( marks in his address on behalf of the \ contractors, Mr E. H. Rhodes said j many years ago shipbuilding was bite one of the main industries of the city. A fleet of fast schooners, staunch barques and barquentines and coasters under stail and steam operated from Auckland, built and launched there.— P.A.