PLANES AND SHIPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 October 1940, Page 6

PLANES AND SHIPS

AUSTRALIA AS SUPPLIER ASTONISHING ADVANCE. COMPLETE REORGANISATION. Australia’s economic and industrial structure have, after a year of war, emerged from a process of reorganisation which has made the Commonwealth across the Tasman an invaluable source of supplies for the Empire. Industrial advances in Australia are reviewed in a statement released by the Australian Trade Commissioner in New Zealand. “Changes wrought in the life of a great part of the nation —the building and tooling of vast new factories, the far-reaching alterations in existing industrial plants to meet the inexorable demands of war, are accomplishments made possible by an unprecedented effort —in organisation and production. “The achievement of a similar expansion under normal conditions might have been expected to be spread over many years, and to have followed a smooth course of progression. Australia has faced the necessity of sudden expansion. No easy road to the solution of problems lay before the planners, and workers in new and expended wartime industries. Executives and operatives alike have met the strain on mind, nerve and muscle imposed by wartime needs. “Difficulties far beyond,those normally encountered in the foundation of new industries threatened to cripple the effort to make many of the needs of war which Australia is producing, oi- will shortly produce. “Demands on the industries of Great Britain and the United States prevented the export to Australia of machines and machine tools. Plans became difficult to obtain. Australian craftsmen have met such difficulties by making in their own country the very delicate machinesand tools which could not be brought from abroad. “It is the reward of a long series of such triumphs over abnormal difficulties that Australia is now producing certain types of planes for R.A.A.F. squadrons and for the Empire Air Training Scheme. Wirraway planes are being built at the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation’s factory, which is working 24 hours a day. Skilled craftsmen are working in 12-hour shifts, to make the planes and engines. Many of these machines, for which present orders toatal 811, are in commission. "C.A.C. Trainers —low wing monoplanes, designed at the same works—have been tested and found admirably suited to their work. Orders for 200 elementary training planes have been placed. “Tiger Moths, for which air frames are made by the De Havilland works, are being delivered in large numbers. Australian craftsmen are assembling Fairey Battle machines manufactured in Great Britain, and parts of other types are being made here. “In addition to the production of existing types, work is progressing on the development of a light reconnaissance bomber, for which more than £2,000.000 has been set aside. “Shipbuilding is another branch of Australian industry which has made valuable contributions to the Empire war effort. Defensive armament has been fitted to more than 130 ships. “Tribal’ class destroyers and large numbers of coastal defence, boom defence and small craft are being built. “The latest order is for 50 patrol vessels. 20 of which are for the Royal Navy.”