MAJOR JOHN WHITNEY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2809, 29 June 1916, Page 3

MAJOR JOHN WHITNEY

I'TONEKR. AMMUNITION MAKER

It is not generally known that the first cartridges made iii New Zealand were produced at Mount Edon, Auckland, by Major John' Whitney— then Captain Whitney—who last Tuesday celebrated 'his eightieth birthday. Somo thirty years ago "Captain Whitney's Cartridge Factory"—as ii was popularly called—was founded in response to urgent overtures from the New Zealand Government. At that time, owing to the Russian war scare, a wave of martial enthusiasm had swept through the Dominion. Companies of volunteers for the defence of these islands were formed almost in a day, and officers' and men wore to "be seen every morning before breakfast drilling in the public reserves. Unfortunately, New Zealand was poorly equipped to resist attack from ouisiae. Her stocks of ammunition were depleted, and no new supplies were forthcoming from abroad. To meet this serious deficiency Major Whitney accepted the task of manufacturing ammunition in the colony, and thanks to liis courage, ingenuity, and energy a supply of ."Do-minion-made Snider ball cartridges was, complished they were ■ inclined to be ment.

Some idea of the nature of the work performed 'may be gathered from the fact that all the necessary machinery, tools and appliances had to ho constructed in Auckland from 'Major. Whitney's specifications. When the Woolwich authorities were informed of what had been accomplished they were inclind to b sceptical, but an official communication from tho New Zealand Government con vinced them of the thorough serviceableness of the ammunition produced at Auckland.

A troublesome difficulty arose at that early period in respect to the gauge of the cartridges made. It was found that some, fitted the rifles used 'by the Defence Forces, and others did not. The fault, however, lay not in the ammunition, but in the rifles, there being a wide variation in the sizes of their chambers. Before this fact was established, Major Whitney, in order to prove the accuracy of his cartridges, challenged any volunteer to compete with him in a quickfiring match at a 500 yds. range. Some of our readers may remember the sensational snapshot shooting that took place at Wellington towards the end of ISBG, when Major Whitney, using his own ammunition, defeated- Lieutenant Vogel, who was credited with' being tho best .rifle shot in New Zealand. In this match Major Whitney hot only beat..his opponent, but created a world's record. His performance surprised Lieutenant Vogel and tho large crowd of spectators, but not those who were aware that Major AVhitnoy was known in both England and Scotland as one of the quickest and most certain game-shots of his day.

It is worth noting that Major Whitney's enterprise was not confined to NewZealand. There was the same urgent need for a small arms ammunition manufactory in Australia, and Major Whitney undertook- to establish ono on that Continent. The' Federal Ammunition Works and Metal Refining and Rolling Mills are really an. oflshot of the Auckland factory, but owing to the , larger consumption of tho Commonwealth the output of the branch far exceeds that of tho parent establishment. Those two most important manufactories are now carried on by The Colonial Ammunition Company, Ltd., in which Major Whitney holds a controlling interest. Through them New Zealand and Australia havo •been rondo practically independent of outside supplies both in regard to ammunition jjind the metal required for its manufacture. '■ .

It.is very gratifying to. Major Whitney in his eightieth, year.to seo how efficiently his works havo met the demands placed upon them during the war period. Both, the Dominion and the Commonwealth Expeditionary Forces have been fully supplied ivith. C.A.C. .Ilflit military regulation cartridges. It is easy to realise what a handicap the authorities in these colonies would lia.vo been labouring under at the present time but for the en. terprisc of Major Whitney. Personally, Major Whitney is'of that typo which an old writer calls "Tho true ' Heroick English Gentleman." Ho. was made by nature for "hardy sports or contest bold," and since the days ho was an Imperial Army officer he has never quailed at hazards either in the field or in business. Of late. Major AVhitnoy has ceased to take the active part he'did in the conduct of affairs. His son, Sir. Cecil Arthur Whitney, who has been associated with him since tho founding of the industry, now -more closely controls everything in his capacity of attorney and manager of tho Colonial 'Ammunition Company, Ltd., Auckland.