PATRIOTIC MECHANICS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4559, 13 April 1942, Page 5

PATRIOTIC MECHANICS

A TE AWAMUtU WAR EFFORT LOCAL WELDING CLUB MANUFACTURING MUNITIONS Having its genesis in the mechanical branch of the Te Awamutu E.P.S., there was formed locally, about three weeks ago, a branch of the Hamilton Welding Club, which enjoys a wide reputation for its enthusiastic war effort, which promises to be equalled, if not excelled here in Te Awamutu. The local members, already over 25 strong, are increasing in numbers at each working session held on Tuesdays and Fridays, and all others interested are invited to join since there is a job for all with willing hands. THE CLUB’S OFFICERS The personnel of the branch Club’s officers is as follows: President and engineer: Mr Graham Macky. Vice-President: Mr John Sterritt, Controller of Production: Mr Owen O’Brien. Organiser: Mr Cliff Whitehouse. Technical advisors: Messrs John Fisher and S. Martin Smith. Supply section: Messrs W. O. Sinnott and Syd. Bayly. . Joint Secretaries and Records: Hrs J. Coombes and Mr T. Stancliffe. OBJECTS OF THE CLUB The objects of the Club can be summarised in a single phrase:— To help the war effort. That means that an ever-increasing number of technicians are spontaneously and patriotically devoting several hours on two evenings a week in the engineering shop at the Te Awamutu Technical School, giving the best of their expert knowledge and labour to the manufacture of all articles likely to be of use to the Home Guard, the E.P.S. or the military authorities. A visit by a “Courier” representative to the School workshop on Friday evening last revealed an inspiring spectacle—a large band of men hard at work manufacturing cup dischargers, signalling lamps and stirrup pumps—all articles urgently needed by the authorities. _ No slackers here; all working with might and main to fulfil their allotted tasks and, incidentally, putting into practice the inscription on the wall: “That which is rightly done, however humble, is noble,” and, it can be added, at the present critical situation facing New Zealand, is a practical patriotic gesture of first rate importance. CUP DISCHARGERS The chief objective which the Club desires to immediately attain is the manufacture of 150 cup dischargers. Hitherto Mills’ bombs and hand grenades have been thrown by hand, possibly the greatest distance being 50 yards. By fitting these cup dischargers to a shot gun, extracting the shot fii-st, it is possible to put the grenade into the cavity of the cup and fire it a distance of several hundred yards—an enormous advantage over the old method. These dischargers weigh less than one pound each and can be attached in the matter of a second or two. They can be produced wholly in Te Awamutu, being made out of a sheet of flat steel which has, of course, to be purchased. The dischargers at present in course of manufacture are for the Home Guard. SIGNAL LAMPS Another job on hand is the manufacture of 40 signalling lamps to a design by Mr John Fisher, who has evolved a type of lamp which has been highly coinmended by the authorities, both as to design and efficiency. It has high projective powers, an electric torch bulb and battery being used with a highly polished reflector, of copper chromium plated. The lamp can be made completely in Te Awamutu, including the spinning of the reflector. These are required for the Signalling Division of the Home Guard. STIRRUP PUMPS. Stirrup pumps are required for the Te Awamutu E.P.S. and the Club sets, as its objective,, in the first instance at any rate, the manufacture of 50. The Hamilton Home Guard set out to make 100 of these contrivances, but utilised a purchased and ready manufactured pump. Here in Te Awamutu there has been designed a pump which can be made locally from waste materials.' To date 15 containers have been sent in and, on the front page to-day, the Mayor and Chief Warden (Mr L. G. Armstrong) makes a strong appeal for a bigger and quicker response. Answer it now! If you do so, the work of manufacture can go on Without interruption. APPEAL FOR MATERIAL As stated above, there is a job for anyone willing by applying at the school on Tuesday or Friday evenings. % Equally important, however, is the appeal made for waste material, and in this connection all interested should read the statement by the Mayor, printed on the first page of this issue. Particularly does the appeal go forth to the farmers, many of whom have scrap iron, broken pieces of implements, or discarded implements and other waste material which could be utilised to advantage. In particular, an urgent appeal is made for: Discarded deep-well pump cylinders. Water piping, any length—none too short, none too long. When it is mentioned that, one deep well pump cylinder will make three stirrup pumps, it will be realised how valuable contributions rn this direction are regarded by the Club. In other words, any farmer who sends in one supplies the nucleus of three fire fighting pumps. Think of what is lying about your farm and translate good thoughts into action by sending it in AT ONCE. Anybody can feel absolutely happy about sending in any old gear lying about; it will come in handy to the Club, who will manufacture it into something useful to the Home Guard or E.P.S. ‘ Remember: These technicians are giving their labour and time freely with a spontaneous desire to speed up the local war effort. Do your bit by responding wholeheartedly and at once to the appeal issued to-day.