SHELL MANUFACTURE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2696, 16 February 1916, Page 5

SHELL MANUFACTURE

ABANDONED. IN. NEW ZEALAND STATE ME NT-. BY IHE MINISTER, _ In an - announcement which appearedin tho newspapers recently it was intimated that tdio staff of tlio Addington Railway Workshops had been engaged on an experimental batcli of 18-pounder lngh expiosivo shell bodies, under tho supervision of Professor K J. &ott, of Canterbury. College, Christchurch, chairman of tho Munitions Committee sot up at a conference of engineers held in September last, and that shell bodies bad been succ&s&fully turned out true to War Office specifications. As it had therefore been conclusively proved that it was possible to manufacture theso munitions satisfactorily ill Zealand, tho question of proceeding vigorously with tho manufacture of arge quantities of 18-pounder sholls waß brought up for decision of Cabinet After full and • careful consideration, Cabinet has decided that, having re- ■ gard to the fact that the supply of | shells to the armies of Great- Britain j and her Allies has now, apparently, . been placed upon a more satisfactory ■ footing, and the necessary quantities of munitions assured, New Zealand could be of greater service by directing all her energies towards the supply of food for the soldiers, such as butter, cheese, frozen meat, etc., andi to take no further action, meanwhile, regarding shell manufacture. The limited ' number of mechanics that were available in New Zealand would then bo free to devote their onetgies to the maintenance of those industries, namely, freezing works, dairying, etc., which are so essential in enabling us to do justice to our responsibilities. A further effect of proceeding with tho manufacture of these shells, it might be pointed cut, would be that the Railway Department, which would "have to take, a large part in the'work, possessing as it does machinery specially suitable for it, wouldi bo obliged to set aside a large proportion of its other important work, such, as the building of new locomotives, which are so essential to its progress. Having duo regard, therefore, to the above-mentioned circumstances, Cabinet was of opinion that a dislocation of our present industries was not justified, and has accordingly decided, as stated above, that it would be inadvisable to proceed with the manufacture of 18-pounder high explosive shells in Now Zealand.' The shells already manufactured will bo used for local purposes. Some time ago, also, it will bo remembered, a machine-gun was successfully turned out by the Petone Railway Workshops, and .a satisfactoiy trial made. Suggestions have been made that a further number of tliese guns should bo manufactured, and New Zealand troops equipped with them. This matter has also been carefully considered by Cabinet, and, in view of all the circumstances of the position as outlined above, they have arrived at a similar decision to 'that regarding shell manufacture. Worths for England.

The Hon. Arthur Myers, Minister of Munitions and Supplies, desires to state, in reply to those men ivlio have intimated to him their desire to proceed to the Old Country, to take part in the manufacture of munitions there, that, although it is not the intention of the New Zealand Government to undertake that manufacture in this country, it is felt' that they would be doinjj better service to the Empire b.v remaining to assist in those important industries to which he has referred.

The Board of Trade, London, have intimated that they are unable to guarantee that the services of any workmen who arrive in England with a view to employment in connection with the manufacture of munitions can be utilised, but there is an unsatisfied demand for workmen in the following classes:—Capstan hands', turret lathe hands, grinders, millers, 'borers, shapers, slotters, planers, fitters, drillers, turners, tool-inakers, tool-setters, _ millwrights, coppersmiths, scientific instrument makers, chemical plumbers and lead burners.

, The board further, state that they do. not recommend any workmen not belonging to any of the above classes coming to England 'for' employment,, and that they regret they cannot pay-the travelling expenses of workmen, of any class from New Zealand.