WAR PRODUCTION

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 102, 25 January 1943, Page 4

WAR PRODUCTION

Increased Output In New Zealand Referring in Christchurch to the critical references made by various antiGovernment candidates on tlie general charge that the Government had made too heavy military commitments. to the detriment of production, the Minister ot Supply and Munitions, Mr. bulkvan, said tint the amazing increase in Mar prodtiction that had taken place during the war years was an adequate answer to the people so anxious to score any kind ot a point, against tlie Government. lie added that in any case the Governments critics would have been much more critical—and with justification—had priority not been given _ to tlie armed forces of tlie country in tlie hour ot crisis, when the Japanese were sweeping all before them in the Pacific, and when no man could say when the Japanese might be attempting an invasion of this country. There could be no two questions about that. “The production of small arms ammunition increased from 12,000,000 in 1939 to 05,000,000 rounds in 1942, and will probably reach 100,000,009 in 1943,’ said Mr. Sullivan. “We produced no hand grenades in 1939. In 1940 we produced 15,000 hand grenades; in_l94l the number produced was 166,047, and in 1942 the number increased to 1,157,025. We are producing more millions this year both for tlie New Zealand Army and for overseas Allies. The number of universal carriers produced in 1940 was nil; in 1941 tlie number produced was 46, and in 1942 GS3. We are now filling orders for overseas. Other figures are: Mortars, 1940, nil; 1941, 150; 1942, 190; Charlton automatic rifles, 1941, nil; 1942, 669. Small arms ammunition charger clips. 1941. 060,000; 1942, 5,140,000; - “We have also produced huge numbers of ' water bottles, rifle grenade dischargers, fuses for mortar bombs, mortar bomb cartridges, to mention only a fraction of the list of munitions produced and in process of production. Tlie tonnage of coal mined in 1941 was 2,618,122 tons, and in 1942 2,665,192 tons. Timber carried on the New Zealand railways in 1941 was 383,079 tons, and in 1942 451,480 tons.” Development of Shipbuilding.

Mr. Sullivan also referred to the development in shipbuilding during the war period in tlie production of minesweepers, Fairmilcs. and oilier types of the smaller naval vessels. 'Three composite minesweepers had been launched and were now in commission ns an integral part of tlie New'Zealand navy. Fourteen minesweepers of the Wakakura class were in the prograniinc. and some had been launched. Twelve. Fairniile patrol vessels for offensive duty around New Zealand were under construction, and four were already afloat. Crush boats for the Air Force and barges for Navy requirements, and similar craft for service in Pacific waters, north ot New Zealand, had also lieon constructed. "We have carried out all this military production as well as meeting the essential needs of the civilian population,” said the Minister. “I have not by any means mentioned tlie full story of our war production, but surely sufficient to show that our war production lias reached levels undreamed of in the past. It should be obvious to even the most prejudiced among tlie Government’s critics, as well as to the fair-minded public, that our manufacturers and workers, who arc worth}’ of all credit for the manner in which they have faced tlie gigantic task given them by tlie Government, could not have accomplished this task had industry been starved of manpower. It is worthy deeds and not idle words Hint count in war, even more than in peace.”