MUNITION NEEDS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 70, 24 March 1937, Page 10

MUNITION NEEDS

AUSTRALIAN PLANT DOMINION'S SUPPLIES MODERN FACTORIES It is very unlikely that New Zealand will take full advantage of the Federal Government’s plans for the modernisation of Australian munition factories. This was indicated by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) in a telephone interview, when asked to comment, on Australian reports that Australia would supply most of the Dominion’s armament needs, says the Christchurch Press. "It is true that we are buying a lot of munitions from Australia already and that wherever possible, when Great. Britain cannot supply us, we- will look to Australia for our munitions,” the Minister said. “In fact the British Government, in view of the great demands made by home requirements, is encouraging us to go to the Australian market. I have seen samples of munitions made in Australia, and was informed after tests that the standard of their product is very high indeed.”

Asked whether New Zealand would purchase aeroplanes from Australia, when strengthening the Dominion air arm, Mr. Jones said that the Australian aeroplane construction units, he understood, were not yet ready; but when Australia could supply the Dominion, if Great Britain could not fill the New Zealand orders, New Zealand might very easily find herself buying aeroplanes from the Commonwealth factories. In view of the pressure of her own needs, Great Britain would not object, he thought. The Government had not yet ordered any new bombing machines, the Minister said, when asked about reports that orders had been placed for fast bombers capable of reaching Singapore in 48 hours. Second in Empire One of the Australian reports referred to the Minister appeared in the Melbourne Herald, and stated that the modernisation of the munition factories, at a cost of £460,000 would make Australia second only to Britain in the Empire in the possession of facilities for the manufacture of war materials. One of the schemes involved was the establishment of a factory in the next twelve months at a cost of £250,000 for the manufacture of the new Bren machine-guns after a decision of the Government last year to adopt this type for all militia units. The new factory would also supply South Africa and New Zealand with their requirements, the report said. Very little was known outside the inner circles of the Defence Department of the real potentialities of the factories, but the Secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence (Sir Maurice Hankey) was so impressed with the equipment during his visit that he strongly favoured Australia becoming the supply centre for New Zealand and Singapore for almost all types of armament and munitions. "The capital expenditure on the plant to date exceeds £3,500,000,” the report stated. "To establish similar factories in other Dominions wouid take years. Therefore, Maribyrnong and Lithgow may become important centres in the discussions at the forthcoming Imperial Conference, when a new Empire defence policy will be considered.