MAKING MUNITIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2509, 12 October 1915, Page 2

MAKING MUNITIONS

THE POSITION IN NEW ZEALAND

[ An interesting statement regarding the possibility of manufacturing munitions in New Zealand was made in Parliament yesterday by the Minister of Munitions (the Hon.. A. M. Myors) in reply to a question put by Mr. Payne. Mr. Myers said that, although 110 statement had been made for some time, a good deal had been done with regard to obtaining necessary information. Shortly after he took office, as members were aware, he called a conference of engineers, and in due course they presented a report. It was quite clear that the important question was one of obtaining material. With that in view, and to get information 011 the matter, he communicated with the authorities, in Australia, and as far as steel was concerned the Broken Hill Proprietary, had made a definite offer to_ supply certain quantities at certain prices. He had communicated with the various engineering firms throughout the Dominion, asking them to supply details of machinery in their possession. He was glad to be able to 6ay that the replies he had received were most satisfactory. He was now in possession of details of the machinery they had, and the number of lathes they were prepared to place at the disposal of , the Government. Almost the whole of them had practically placed: their establishments at the Government's disposal. .He had also* communicated with the University Colleges, and they had also placed the whole of their resources at his..disposal, or at the disposal of any committee. that might be set up. Members might have 6een cablegrams .from Australia with regard to the manufacture of munitions, but the authorities there had asked for-a certain delay to enable them to furnish to Now -Zealand more complete specifications of the shells required. As soon as that information was to hand, together with ■what they had, he would be justified in calling together the engineering committee that had been set up—he hoped that could be done in the near future. As to grenades the Minister of Defence had received a.reply from the Secretary of State, to tlie eifeel that it was not necessary to send a stock of grenades. The whole question was receiving every consideration, and as soon as a little more information was in his possession, and the matter could be placed before Cabinet, a definite statement would be made: . _