RIVET DRIVEN BY MINISTER

Southland Times, Issue 24585, 6 November 1941, Page 8

RIVET DRIVEN BY MINISTER

First Of Five Steel Minesweepers (P.A.) DUNEDIN, November 5. The initial step in the construction of steel minesweepers in New Zealand was taken today when the Minister of Supply and Munitions, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, drove home a rivet in the first of five vessels to be built at Port Chalmers. The ceremony, which was largely attended by representatives of local bodies and prominent citizens, was held at the new shipbuilding yards of the contractors, the Stevenson and Cook Engineering Company Ltd. The Minister paid a tribute to the work already done by the contractors, with whom was associated Mr James Fletcher, and expressed confidence that the construction of the vessels would be well done. “I feel sure that will be other orders coming from the Government in this aspect of the war effort,” he said. About the middle of June, Mr Sullivan continued, the Government decided to build some all-steel vessels. Arrangements were put in train and a contract for five was let to Stevenson and Cook. Much preliminary work was necessary to prepare sheds and stocks on which to build, but so vigorous was the prosecution of this work that in just two months the contractors could have started building had the necessary supplies of steel come to hand from Australia. Because of delays the shipment did not arrive, and although all the necessary preparations were made and the work could have been started on the scheduled date, this was not possible. Now' the steel had arrived and the delay had been only one month. That time lag would, he was confident, be overtaken. The enthusiasm with which the initial work had been done warranted such confidence. PACIFIC SHADOWS Engines and boilers were being built for the minesweepers in New Zealand, the Minister said. The material was imported, but their own workmen were fabricating it. The boilers were the largest that could be built with the facilities available in the Dominion. “The lowering shadows that darken the Pacific horizon may break into a storm, much as we may hope otherwise,” Mr Sullivan said. The maintenance of morale is of vital importance, but the realities are stark and stern. Self-complacency can have no place in our programme. The titanic struggle in Russia has revealed the amazing . strength of the Nazis. The stand made ■ by the Russians has won our admira- : tion, but it has also served to remind , us that the present is a breathing space. , As Hitler has thrown all his resources on to the eastern front he has given us ’ the opportunity to build up our re- 1 sources. ]

After referring to the growing production of war materials in New Zealand, the Minister said that the story was one of achievement of which the people of the Dominion could be proud. More than 11,000 people were directly engaged in the production of the sinews of war and the activity that was being set in train that day was just another cog, a vitally important cog, in the sum total of New Zealand’s contribution to victory.