DOMINION AMMUNITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15729, 2 October 1914, Page 4

DOMINION AMMUNITION.

works at AUCKLAND. SUGGESTED protection. pj£"4 ""'*•" ", ■•'""'- ? - ' : ' [bttelegkath—special correspondent] "'• * '-. / '• ;i \ Wellington, Thursday. The Minister for Defence was ; asked recently by Mr. Myers (Auckland East) whether, in view of ..the fact that the industry 1 carried on by,, the Colonial Ammunition Company at Auckland is of a national character, and ought :to be firmly established in New Zealand,' the Government will introduce legislation: which will enable them .to negotiate with this company with a view to inducin" it to extend its operations by the erection of a refining and metal roller plant and machinery, and whether iii view of the fact that the manufacture of;,ammunition in • New :Zealand is exposed to severe competition from certain classes outside the Dominion, who pay lower wages for longer hours of work, the Government will introduce,legislation providing for an increased duty on shot gun cartridges and cartridge-cases, J and for the 'repeal of the duty,'on shot.,.: -y- : Mr; Myers remarked that it was well known that the ; factory of, the Colonial Ammunition Company at Auckland-was now : working' night and day, amd ; yet ;a, large part 'of its military : plant and machinery was idle owing to 'the lack of skilled workers;: to use it. 7 If steps were taken by tho' Government ;to ; enable this •company-to make, say, one-half -of;the nine' million shot gun cartridges imported into New Zealand last year,, this would provide ample - workers ,to •; run the; spare military machinery in time of emergency. At the present time tho Colonial Ammunition Company is turning out ball ammunition at the rate of two hundred and forty, thousand ;-■, to > two -'.- hundred 1 and fifty thousand per week— times the' ordinary.' annual supply taken [ by the-' Government—and skilled workers cannot, therefore, be spared at this juncture :to,;train new hands, who should .bo taught;; the use of the company's military plant and machinery in time of peace. , i Mr. Allen made the following, reply today:—"l; do Dot consider it;necessary to introduce legislation , but I should .-be. glad to " consider any workable proposal, if submitted. To impose an increased duty ;on shot ; gun cartridges ; and cartridge-cases' is not, in;my opinion,' advisable, in■ view :of the possibility of ; the increased cost : : of cartridges, which are much ■ used 'for. the destruction of rabbits, v It .is'- not : advisable to repeal -the; duty on shot, "as I the industry ,of shot-making' .exists \in New Zealand under tho protection : afforded by the duty," , . ', ■ "■ '■ »——.