MAKING OF WAR WEAPONS

Southland Times, Issue 24357, 11 February 1941, Page 4

MAKING OF WAR WEAPONS

DUNEDIN ACTIVITIES 11 FACTORIES ENGAGED IN PRODUCTION (Special to The Times) DUNEDIN, February 10. Dunedin is playing no small part in the manufacture of weapons of war and 11 firms are now engaged in the production of munitions of various kinds, chiefly trench mortars, bombs and bomb parts. Some of the fruits of the concentrated effort that has been made in New Zealand since July were inspected today by the Minister of Supply and Munitions, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, who spent a busy day in some of the factories. Tire railway workshops at Hillside, where trench mortars are being turned out in ever increasing quantities, are possibly the focal point of Dunedin’s munitions production,. but other firms engaged in similar work are co-operating to the fullest extent.

“In the short time that has elapsed since my return from Australia with plans for the beginning of the manufacture of munitions in New Zealand,” Mr Sullivan said in a short talk to munitions workers, “we have created a munitions department, drawn up plans and specifications and put out between 130 and 140 orders to firms throughout the Dominion. I would like to leave with you the thought that throughout New Zealand today men and women are dependent upon your efforts, and the efforts of other munition workers. On you may depend the answer to the question: 'lf we are attacked can we resist and maintain the right to live our lives in our own way?’ ”

TRENCH MORTARS EXAMINED

Mr Sullivan spent a considerable time examining trench mortars that had been turned out at the Hillside workshops. Not only are mortars made at the workshops, but also the precision tools for their manufacture had first to be manufactured locally. Made from cast steel or cast iron, depending whether they are high explosive or smoke bombs, tire missiles are cast and turned ready for the deadly explosive, and here again it was found necessary to make tools for the work, chucks, jigs and lathes, before the more important task could be undertaken. Other factories are busy with small aerial bombs and parts of Mills bombs. Dunedin is but a cog in the wheel that is beginning to turn faster in the production of munitions, but it is a vital cog because the work has been spread throughout the Dominion to avoid any possible delay. This point was emphasized by the Minister during his tour of inspection. Every worker was called on for loyalty, because loyalty to the job meant loyalty to the country.