MUNITIONS PROGRAMME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 August 1940, Page 2

MUNITIONS PROGRAMME

EMPLOYMENT OF MEN & WOMEN IN AUSTRALIA. ASSISTANCE FROM SCIENCE. It is the intention of the Australian Ministry of Munitions, which is well ahead with its £50,000,000 programme, to employ men whenever they are available rather than women. In some classes of work, particularly in small arms ammunitions factories, women are considered more suitable, and they will continue to be employed. But the Ministry has not undertaken, and will not officially undertake, the technical training of women until all available manpower is exhausted. The Ministry has announced also that it I will not resort to extraordinary measures to obtain labour until all normal resources of the labour market have been fully exploited. Australia’s scientists are giving their full co-operation in the Commonwealth’s munitions drive. Professor T. H. Laby, president of the Institute of Physics of Australia, has accepted the position of chairman of a panel which will co-ordinate and handle optical munitions. One of the first activities of this panel was the investigation of problems connected with telescopic sights for anti-tank guns. When the new explosives programme is launched the services of a number of highly-skilled and experienced chemists will be needed. Applications will soon be called for. The salary range will be from £304 to £5OB a year, but applicants with higher qualifications will be considered for employment in more important posts at salaries ranging from £5OO to £7OO a year.

The Commonwealth’s munitions drive is giving work to every State in a general decentralisation scheme. Queensland will be allotted the manufacture of 25 pounder shells, primers and grenades, Western Australia mortar bombs, 18 or 25 pounder shells and primers, and Tasmania 18 or 25 pounder shells and primers. There will be a great increase in the output of factory annexes in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. In some cases production will be increased tenfold.