MAKING MUNITIONS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2611, 5 November 1915, Page 3

MAKING MUNITIONS

DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED

BTATEMENT BY THE MINISTER,

By Telegraph.-Press Association,

Chrfßtohurch, November i. A statement about tin possibility of < manufacturing munitions in New Zea- ■■ land and probable early developments ' in legard thereto was made by the Hon. A. M. Myers. Immediately after Mr. Myers took charge of this-Department in August last ho convened a conference of a large number of the leading engineers, which took place m Wellington on September 3. .As the result of this a committee was set up to go thoroughly into the question, with a view of enabling the Minister to decide whether it was practicable and feasible to proceed with the manufacture of munitions. A few days later this committee submitted an interim report, which indicated, inter aha, that the bodies of 18-pounder ' shells could be manufactured in New Zealand* if the steel could be procured. Inquires have, therefore, been made as to the possibility of importing steel from Australia, and the Minister was able to say that the. result of his inquiries had been entirely satisfactory. In order to ascertain the number of machines available in/ New Zealand which would be suitable for this manufacture, the various engineering firms throughout the Dominion -wero approached, and they had responded in a most generous and patriotic manner. Several stated that they would place their entire plant at'the disposal of the Government if! the work of manufacturing munitions wore proceeded! with. The >vork of collecting details of machinery available had occupied a great deal of time, but the census was" now just about complete. ' The Minister has been kept fully advised as to the progress that is being made in Australia in the manufacture of munitions,, arid a great deal of valuable information has.been received. Mr. Myers is now awaiting some final particulars from the Commonwealth Minister for Defence as to an alteration in the specification of shells, etc., recently suggested by the Home authorities. These may arrive probably in a few days, when the committee set up by the conference will be called together again to consider the whole matter.- Mr. Myers said, therefore, he hoped that within the next week or two he would be able to submit to Cfebinet a review of the position which would justify Cabinet in arriving at a final decision. x "lt is satisfactory to know." concluded Mr. Mrers, "that an engineering firm in Christchurch has produced . a sample_ bayonet, which is now being tested with a view o ascertaining its reliability and suitability. In the past all our bayonets have been imported, but judging by the .appearance of the sample submitted there is every reason to hope that it will pass the necessary test.' f