MINE-SWEEPERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21992, 18 June 1941, Page 4

MINE-SWEEPERS

Four To Be Built At Port Chalmers ' Contract Let To Dunedin Firm Early Call For Labour By Telegraph—Presa Association—Copyright (F.A.) WELLINGTON, June 17. The Minister of Supply and Munitions, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, advises that a contract has been placed with Messrs Stevenson and Ccok, in association with several other Dunedin firms, for the building of four mine-sweepers. These ships are to be built to plans which have been supplied by the British Admiralty and will be complete in every respect. Mr Sullivan said that during his visit to Australia some months ago, proposal for the supply of materials had been submitted to various Australian manufacturers and arrangements had now been satisfactorily completed which will ensure the supply of the necessary materials. “Port Chalmers offers an ideal location for work of this nature," continued the Minister. “Apart altogether from the fact that there is an excellent site adjacent to the wharves, ship repair work has been carried out for many years by Messrs Stevenson and Cook, whose engineering shops are specially equipped to handle such work. Tenders will be invited within the next few days for the erection of certain necessary shops, gantries and slipways, and it is anticipated that these will be erected and ready to commence operations as soon as the first lot of material arrives from Australia, which will be in about eight weeks’ time.” The question of the labour shortage is one that must of necessity be recognised, but from information received Mr Sullivan said he was confident that it could be overcome. In New Zealand to-day there are a large number of retired engineers, many of whom have had actual experience in shipbuilding, and as soon as the facilities are available and a call is made for labour it is_felt that many of these retired engineers will respond. The building of these mine-sweepers will probably constitute New Zealand’s greatest effort apart from the production of foodstuffs. Britain to-day is desperately in need of ships and more ships, ana anything that this country can do to make good the lasses suffered in tonnage will be a definite contribution that will be appreciated by those in authority in England.