MUNITIONS MAKING.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1915, Page 2

MUNITIONS MAKING.

AN INTERIM REPORTS If. Telegraph.—Preaa Association, Wellington, Sept. 0. An interim report has been received by the Minister of Munitions (Hon. A, IM. Myers) from a committee appointed at the recent conference of engineers, called to consider the question of whether sheila and other munitions could be made in the Dominion. The information required by the committee is not yet complete, and the collection of data will be continued. The Minister mentioned to-night that the report would not be submitted, as originally intended, to a conference of engineers, to be held in Christehurch. It would 'be placed (before Cabinet when completed. Mr. Myers stated that a committee, headed by Professor Scott, was going into the whole question of possibility and advisabilityi of manufacturing munitions. The interim report stated that , it would be possible to manufacture bodies of 13-poundders and 4.5 in. shells in the Dominion if suitable materials : could 'be supplied. The materials were . not at present available, and inquiries : were being made regarding supplies i from abroad. The committee had not yet secured the full information it de- , sired, and was not ready to say anything about the advisability of producing shell bodies in tdie Dominion, but would submit another report at a later date. Anything more than bodies should not be attempted. It would not be possible to manufacture cartridges or exi plosives. The committee did not think it practicable to manufacture machineguns in any quantities, but it would be possible in time to turn out some guns, chiefly by expert hand labor. Further information was being collected, and in the meantime an experimental gun was being made at Petone railway workshops. The manufacture of rifles was not regarded as practicable, since many special machines would be < required for the work which would not be obtainable under present conditions. The Defence Department requires a large quantity of replacements for rifles, and the committee reported that these could be made by hand in New Zealand. It was intended to have samples sent to various centres for the information of engineers, who would be able then to ascertain if they could undertake the work. The Minister added that he desired to express his warm appreciation of I,iie good work that had been done gratis by the members of the committee, and by other engineers who have been associated with the conference.