MR SEMPLE DELIGHTED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 28 October 1941, Page 6

MR SEMPLE DELIGHTED

EFFORTS MADE JUSTIFIED ANSWER TO CRITICISM Christchurch, This Day. “The report is certainly an answer to some of the superficial and stupid criticism thrown about by people who did not know the first thing about the business.” said Mr Semple this morning. commenting on the i-eport prepared by the Chief of the General Staff, Major-General Puttick on the Domin-ion-built tank. He wa delighted with the report because it justified the efforts made by Mr T. G. Beck, District Public Works Engineer in Canterbury, and the men associated with him ir> the building of the three tanks. Mr Beck was a civil servant and could not reply to his critics, from whom he had tc put up with many cheap sneers. “That tank was an honest to God effort to do something with the material at our disposal.” added Mr Semple, “when raiders were at our backdoor. Instead of sitting down and moaning we felt we ought to do something to manufacture weapons that would help to defend ou. country and our people. I was responsible for th2 suggestion, which was carried out by Mr Beck in conjunction with Mr A. D. Todd, engineer at the P.W.D. workshops at Temuka. and Mr A. J. Smith, overseer. The first tank was made at Temuka and two more at Addington workshops. For the sake of the men concerned I am pleased with MajorGeneral Puttick’s report. He put the tank through the acid test and it came out with flying colours. I agree with the General now that modern tanks with proper armoured steel are coming to hand that there is no need to make any more converted tractor tanks.”— P.A