MAKING OF MUNITIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15964, 8 July 1915, Page 8

MAKING OF MUNITIONS.

POSITION IN DOMINION. | ■ "* QUESTION IX THE HOUSE. $ [BY TELEGEJIPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] *|f| Wellington, Wednesday. 3 -« l The Minister for Defence, the Hon. Jas. "i£ Allen, was asked to-day by Mr. Ander- \' '■% son (Mataura) whether the Government jp had considered the advisableness of -? ■■'■'% establishing a small arms factory in New J*.J Zealand, and, if so, what steps have they '"' taken in the matter; if the Government '-;; had made inquiries as to. whether there '%: are any engineering establishments in *% New Zealand able and willing to make ;?K shells of any kind, and if so what steps '3 had been taken to have such establish- ts»l ments converted into ammunition fac- ".'."*' tories. »*js Mr. Allen stated that the matter had engaged the attention of the Government. i; ' The existence of a small arms factory '. under State control in Australia, and the ;'?r fact that the Commonwealth Government * had commenced the manufacture of artil- Vlery ammunition, to some extent relieved *i the anxiety of the New Zealand Govern- *«* ment in this connection. Inquiries had ' ■ f been made as to the possibility of the "'?■■■■. manufacture of shells in the Dominion. Following upon the precedent laid down by the Imperial Government, it was not : j advisable for State reasons during the ;';t existence of a state of war for the Gov- " . ernment to fullv disclose publicly the . exact nature of the steps taken regardirg *- a small arms factory and the manufao * • tnre of ammunition. • ,