SUPPLY OF MUNITIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 34, 10 February 1941, Page 6

SUPPLY OF MUNITIONS

MANUFACTURE IN N.Z. WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS MORTARS AND BOMBS TO TINS WELLINGTON, Feb. 8. The production of munitions has now become an important part in New Zealand’s war effort and the extent of this enterprise is outlined by the Minister of Munitions and Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. The full extent of Ihe nation’s achievement in the manufacture of machinery for war can never be fully revealed during the war and there can be no exchange by combatants of such valuable information while the struggle rages, said the Minister. A number of engineering firms are now engaged in the production of war materials of varying descriptions and some of these are producing component parts, as, for instance, in the case of hand grenades. These parts are being delivered to a central point for final assembly and filling with explosives. Several hundred thousand war munition units are now in production and some of these have already been completed.

The rivetted type of Bren gun carriers required for training purposes are being manufactured in the Government workshops and a large number are in an advanced stage of production. An even larger number of the welded type of universal carriers are on order and contracts covering various .sections of this work have been placed with numerous New Zealand firms. These firms are organising preparatory work in order that speedy production will be possible immediately the materials are available. On the completion of the sectional work, these carriers will be finally assembled on mass production lines. Trench Mortars. Several hundred 3-inch trench mortars are also in production, the first order being in an advanced stage of manufacture in the Government workshops. The final assembly will be undertaken within a short time and the balance of this first order will be assembled by a large private factory from ccinpleted sub-sections supplied by the Government, works and private engineering firms Preparatory work in connection with tn-s manufacture of high explosive and smoke bombs for the 3-inch met tars has been completed and orders placed with 18 firms throughout the Dominion. The machining of these bomb body casings will be carried out to meet the delivery requirements and suitable groups have been set up, necessitating the hiring from private owners of lathes not in full use ana installing them at central points. Eight groups have been established ready for the maximum output when the castings became available.

Army requirements for several hundred thousand ammunition charge clips is on order and the necessary dies, annealing furnaces and gauges are practically complete. On receipt of special steel on order from the United States, production will commence immediately.

Mess Tin Manufacture. An Auckland firm holding an order for the supply of several thousand mess tins has completed the manufacture of the necessary dies and sufficient material has just arrived from Australia to enable production to commence. A number of component parts for steel helmets are to be manufactured by private firms and will be fitted to the steel helmet bodies which are due to arrive shortly from Australia. To increase the production of small arms ammunition, the Government decided to duplicate the existing factory operated by the Colonial Ammunition Company at Auckland. The new buildings are well advanced and will be completed by next month when machineary will be available for installation. When this new Government factory is in full production the present rate of production of .303 ammunition will be doubled, 'thus fulfilling the small arms ammunition requirements for the New Zealand armed forces. Linen Flax Industry

A request from Britain for the establishment of a linen flax industry in the Dominion has been fully met and the manufacture of the necessary harvesting machinery and that for treating crops has been carried out by the Government and private workshops. Sites were selected in the South Island for the establishment of buildings to house the machinery and, to date, 90 pulling machines, 11 deseeding machines, six scutchers, nine tow shakers, two seed cleaners and 20 flax carts have been completed, thus enabling the harvesting to proceed without delay. The equipping of the factories is progressing as they become ready for the installation of boilers and machinery. On account of the difficulty being experienced in Australia with a similar type of machinery, the flax puller and deseeder manufactured in New Zealand have been shipped there to assist them in this connection. To conserve petrol stocks, gas producer units had been fitted to Railway Department buses and other Government vehicles and were in satisfactory service. Others are to be converted as soon as possible. An order for cordite containers for the Navy Department is in an advanced stage -.f production. The manufactured component parts are complete and the final assembly will be proceeded with immediately on receipt of brass sheets from Australia. The work of filling hand grenades and mortar bombs, etc., with explosives will be carried out in part of the premises of a large motor assembling factory acquired for the purpose and suiteble equipment and air conditioning plant. etc., has been installed. Every precaution has been taken to enstue that the work will be carried out under the regulations pertaining to the sale handling end • ustody of explosives. The experimental heavy iank adapted to a caterpillar tractor has been completed by the Public Works Department and has been tested and approved by the Army authorities. Various types of munitions must be manufactured exactly to drawings and specifications and numerous

gauges are necessary for use by the manufacturers and Army inspection officers, and on account of the large number involved, the work has been spread throughout the Dominion by utilising the Railway Department workshops, private engineerings firms and technical school workshops. The immediate requirements of the Navy are being met by the construction of minesweepers at Auckland. Engines from obsolete ships are being used to meet the needs of service at the earliest possible moment and designs will be adopted which will enable these boats to be used as trawlers at any future date. A large increase in shipbuilding throughout the world has also made it necessary to build additional minesweeping trawlers of an improved type and this work will be proceeded with immediately drawings are available. Industrial Possibilities As a result of a delegation of New Zealand representatives under the leadership of Major-General J. E. Duigan to the Eastern Group Conference held at New Delhi, a specially selected group of British technicians examined the industrial possibilities of New Zealand with a view to assisting the Empire effort in connection with war requirements overseas as well as for the defence of this Dominion. These experts are reporting their findings to the Imperial Government who, it is expected in due course, will establish programmes suitable of fulfilment iff New Zealand to conditions and materials available. Associated with the munition work now in hand throughout New Zealand has come the problem of the supply of suitable trained labour to carry out the various operations. The Government has inaugurated a scheme which provides additional facilities for intensive training of auxiliary workers. A four months training course in trades associated with the engineering industry is now proceeding at the Wellington Technical College and the scheme will be extended in the engineering industry to other centres as soon as is practicable.

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