WAR SUPPLIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23489, 28 October 1939, Page 16

WAR SUPPLIES

AUSTRALIA'S OUTPUT • INDUSTRY MOBILISED "AN EMPIRE ARSENAL" MAGNITUDE OF EFFORT [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT] SYDNEY, Oct. 19 The Minister for Supply.and Development, Mr. Casey, gave this week a detailed survey of measures taken and to be taken to increase the supply of war materials from Australia, declaring that this country had become "an arsenal of the Empire." Mr. Casey contrasted Australia's present position with that of 1914 Then, he said, Australia mado her own rifles and small-arms ammunition, but practically nothing else. Now it was self-contained in all the main lines of armaments and munitions—all produced in Government factories or under direct Government control. "Wo now produce practically everything we require," ho said. "Wo are turning out artillery equipment, including anti-aircraft guns of the most modern type, armoured cars, military vehicles, tens of thousands of complete shells from the smallest to the largest used in the fighting services, depth charges and depth charge throwers. This means also that we make all the wide rango of explosives with which to fdl all those powerful engines of war. "Engines oi War" "We now produce not only our own rifles, but also throe types of machineguns, rifle, pistol and machine-gun cartridges—millions of rounds of them every, week—hand grenades, trench mortar bombs, air bombs from the smallest to the largest, and a wide range of other munitions and engines of war. Both in respect to the raw materials and the finished product the Commonwealth is practically independent of all outside sources."

Mr. Casey said that the War Cabinet Inst week" approved expenditure of several millions of pound's which would result in a great increase in output of Vickers and Bren guns, as; well as the production of Lewis guns. Manufacture .would bo begun of anti-tank guns to supplement supplies from overseas. With the doubling of.capacity for 6hcll production, facilities for shell filling would be correspondingly extended.

"Already we are in a position to supply the requirements of other Dominions in many important articles of munitions." Mr. Casey said. "But what is more -important, expansion of production will result in correspondingly increased capacity of the Commonwealth to bear her part in the ' battle of the workshops-' " Aircraft Construction Speaking of aircraft construction. Mr. Casey said: "The Government is pushing ahead with aircraft construction, both for our own needs and for those of the Royal Air Force. Immediately war broke out, negotiations were begun with the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, as a result of which, within a 'short time, deliveries of Wirraway aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force will .be made at a n>te equivalent to equipping one complete squadron with aircraft every three weeks. This is something, considering that the industry is only 12 months old. Arrangements for the manufacture in Australia of Bristol Beaufort aircraft are forging ahead. Because of the immense Empire air effort to train many thousands of pilots, we are faced with the problem of building training aircraft in Australia in large numbers. Wo have plans ready for construction of training aircraft on the grand scale.'' Dealing with the provision of uniforms and equipment for the fighting forces, Mr! Casey said that in little more than a week orders were placed with 37 woollen mills for a quarter of a million blankets and for more than 1.C00.0C0 vards of woollen cloth. In addition, about £1,000,000 worth of defence stores had been ordered in recoilt weeks. jYlost of - the staff of the Contract Board had been working 15 or 16 hours a day, seven days a week, to keep abreast of the urgent demands of the services.