MUNITIONS OF WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21716, 3 February 1934, Page 8

MUNITIONS OF WAR

AUSTRALIA PREPARING MANUFACTURING SUPPLIES NE.W PROJECTILE FACTORY - [moil our own correspondent"! SYDNEY. Jan. 2B With the letting of a + ender for £13,452 for the erection of a new projectile shop at the Maribyrriong Ordinance Factory in Victoria, the Federal Government is taking step toward the realisation of its plans to make Australia independent of overseas arniaments and munition supplies. It is hoped that this ambition will be achieved within four or five years. Plans for the immediate future include the construction locally of powerful anti-aircraft guns, and, if finances permit, next year's Budget will contain provision for the manufacture of mechanised war equipments. Details of the construction of the new cordite factory at Maribyrnong have been almost completed. This will be capable of - supplying Australia and New Zealand as well as the British fleet in the East. It is hoped in Australian defence circles that the ruture will see a closer co-operation between Australia and New Zealand in defence/matterg to the mutual benefit of each. As indicated by the last important pronouncement of policy by the Minister of Defence the Royal Australian Navy will be gradually strengthened. It is suggested that the building of the first new vessel —a modern sloop—should be timed to synchronise with the visit of Prince George, who could perform the laying-down ceremony. Mechanisation of the land forces is an important phase of the Government's defence policy, and armoured cars will figure largely in the militia training programme. > New types of high velocity guns of light weight are being evolved to enable armoured, cars to travel at a high speed. Plans .for the first mechanised unit of the Australian army, which, for the present year, will be confined to Victoria, provide for the use of 533 officers and me,a, 12 cars, 27 armed car lorries, and 37 motor-cycles. The first tank unit will probably be established at Ballarat. The construction of military aircraft in Australia is still at a very early stage, but steady progress is being made in the training of expert staffs, who will form the nucleus of an independent defence aircraft factory, which will be able to supply the Commonwealth forces with land and sea craft. It has been suggested that the huge workshops at the- Cockatoo Dock, Sydney, should be converted into aircraft factories. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith's new aeroplane for New Zealand air services is already being / constructed there.