PRODUCTION OF MUNITIONS

Southland Times, Issue 24356, 10 February 1941, Page 4

PRODUCTION OF MUNITIONS

Many Firms Engaged In New Zealand BREN GUN-CARRIERS MANUFACTURED (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 8. Tire production of munitions has now become an important part in New Zealand’s war effort. The extent of this enterprise was outlined by the Minister of Munitions and Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. “The full extent of the nation’s achievement in the manufacture of the machinery of war can never be fully revealed during the war and there can be no exchange by the combatants of such valuable information while the struggle rages,” said the Minister. “A number of engineering firms is now engaged in the production of war material of varying descriptions. Some of these are producing component parts, as, for instance, in the case of hand grenades. These parts are being delivered to a central point for final assembly and filling with explosives. Several hundred thousand war munition units are now in production and some of these have already been completed. “The rivetted type of Bren gun-car-riers required for training purposes is being manufactured in Government workshops. A large number is in an advanced stage of production and an even larger number of the welded type of universal carriers is on order and contracts covering various sections of this work have been placed with numerous New Zealand firms. These firms are organizing the preparatory work in order that speedy production will be possible immediately the materials are available. On the completion of the sectional work these carriers will be finally assembled on mass production lines. “Several hundred 3-inch trench mortars are also in production, the first order being in an advanced stage of manufacture in the Government workshops. Final assembly will be undertaken within a short time and the balance of this first order will be assembled by a large private factory from completed sub-sections supplied by the Government works and private engineering firms. Preparatory work in the manufacture of high explosive and smoke bombs for the 3-inch mortars has been completed and orders have been placed with 18 firms throughout the Dominion. To enable the machining of these bomb body casings to be carried out to meet delivery requirements, suitable groups have been set up, necessitating the hiring from private owners of lathes not in full use and installing them at central points.

READY FOR MAXIMUM OUTPUT “Eight groups have been established ready for the maximum output when the castings become available. Army requirements for several hundred thousand ammunition charge clips are on order and the necessary dies, annealing furnaces and gauges are practically complete. On the receipt of special steel on order from the United States production will begin immediately. “An Auckland firm holding an order for the supply of several thousand mess tins has completed the manufacture of the necessary dies and sufficient material has just arrived from Australia to enable production to begin. A number of component parts for steel helmets is to be manufactured by private firms and will be fitted to the steel helmet bodies, which are due to arrive shortly from Australia.

“To increase the production of small arms ammunition the Government has decided to duplicate the existing factory operated by the Colonial Ammunition Company at Auckland. The new buildings are well advanced and will be completed next month when the machinery will be available for installation. When this new Government factory is in full production the present rate of production of .303 ammunition will be doubled, thus fulfilling the small arms ammunition requirements of the New Zealand Armed Forces.”

Mr Sullivan said that a request from Britain for the establishment of a linen flax industry in the Dominion had been fully met. The manufacture of the necessary harvesting machinery and that for treating crops had been carried out by the Government and private workshops. Sites were selected in the South Island for the establishment of buildings to house machinery. To date 90 pulling machines, 11 deseeding machines, six scutchers, nine tow shakers, two seed cleaners and 20 flax carts had been completed, thus enabling harvesting to proceed without delay. The equipping of the factories was progressing as they became ready for installing the boilers and machinery. Because of a difficulty being experienced in Australia with a similar type of machinery a flax puller and de-seeder manufactured in New Zealand had been shipped there to assist them in this connection.

GAS PRODUCER UNITS “To conserve petrol stocks gas producer units have been fitted to Railway Department buses and other Government vehicles and are in satisfactory service and others will be converted as soon as possible,” said the Minister. “An order for cordite containers for the Navy Department is in an advanced stage of production. The manufactured component parts are complete and final assembly will be proceeded with immediately on receipt of brass sheet from Australia. The work of filling hand grenades, mortal’ bombs, and so on, with explosives will be carried out in part of the premises of a large motor assembling factory acquired for the purpose and suitable equipment, air conditioning plant, and so on, has been installed. Every precaution has been taken to ensure that the work will be carried out under the regulations pertaining to the safe handling and custody of explosives. “An experimental heavy tank adapted to a caterpillar tractor has been completed by the Public Works Department and has been tested and approved by the Army authorities. Various types of munitions must be manufactured exactly to drawings and specifications. Numerous gauges are necessary for use by the manufacturers and Army inspection officers and because of the large number involved the work has been spread throughout the Dominion by utilizing Railway Department workshops, private engineering firms and technical school workshops. “The immediate requirements of the Navy are being met by the construction of minesweepers at Auckland. Engines from obsolete ships are being used to meet the needs of the service at the earliest possible moment and designs will be adopted which enable these boats to be used as trawlers at any future date. The large increase in ship building throughout the world has also made it necessary to build additional minesweeping trawlers of an improved type and this work will be proceeded with immediately drawings are available.

VISIT OF EXPERTS “As a result of the visit of the delegation of New Zealand representatives under the leadership of Major-General Sir John Duigan, Chief of the General Staff, to the Eastern Group Conference

held in New Delhi a specially selected group of British technicians has examined the industrial possibilities of New Zealand with a view to assisting the Empire effort in war requirements overseas, as well as for the defence of this Dominion. These experts are reporting their findings to the Imperial Government, which it is expected, in due course will establish programmes suitable of fulfilment in New Zealand to the conditions and materials available. “Associated with the munition work now in hand throughout New Zealand has come the problem of supply of suitably trained labour to carry out the various operations. The Government has inaugurated a scheme which provides additional facilities for the intensive training ,of auxiliary workers. A four months’ training course in trades associated with the engineering industry is now proceeding at the Wellington Technical College and the scheme will be extended in the engineering industry to the other centres as soon as practicable.”