HOME-MADE MUNITIONS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144778, 7 September 1915, Page 4

HOME-MADE MUNITIONS.

THE POSSIBILITIES DISCUSSED. TEE PEESS ASSOCIATION. ■ AYELLINGTON, Sept. 6. An interim report has been ■ received by the Minister of Munitions (Hon. A. M. Myers) from .a committee appointed at . the recent conference of engineers, called to consider the question of whether shells and other munitions could be made in tlio 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 Christchurch. 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 advisability of manufacturing munitions. The interim report stated that it would be possible to manufacture bodies ot 18-pounders and 4.oin. shells in the Dominion if suitable materials could be supplied. The materials were not at present available, and inquiries were being made regarding supplies from abroad. The committee had not yet secured the full information it desired, and was not ready to say anything about the advisability of producing shell bodies in the 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 explosives. 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 labour. Further information was being collected, and in the meantime an experimental gun was being made at Petono 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 otbainabic under present conditions. The Defence Department requires a large quantity of replacements for rifles, and tlie committee reported that these could be made bv hand in New Zealand. It was intended to iiavo samples sent to various centres for the information of engineers, who would .be able then to ascertain if they could undertake tho work. The Minister added that he desired to express his warm appreciation of the good work that had been done gratis by the members of the committee, and by other engineers who have been associated .with the conference.