FULL SPEED AHEAD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 February 1941, Page 3

FULL SPEED AHEAD

MANUFACTURE OF ARMS

DOUBLE SHIFTS WORKED. RAILWAY WORKSHOPS ACTIVITIES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.' CHRISTCHURCH. February 27. Double shifts in some departments and overtime in others are being worked, at the Addington and Hillside Railway Workshops to quicken the rate of progress on the manufacture of munitions and armaments to further the Dominion’s war effort, according to the Minister of Railways. Mr. Semple. “The vast amount of detail work involved in the manufacture of large stocks of munitions and armaments cannot be fully realised by the average citizen," said Mr. Semple. “Railway workshops employees at Addington and Hillside are working overtime and. in some cases, double shifts to speed up the production of all the varied arms and other defensive requirements from the conduct of the war. The men have their hearts in their jobs and progress is the order all along the line.

"At Addington the conversion of caterpillar tractors into armoured tanks is proceeding satisfactorily. Bodies have been completed and before the end of April it is hoped to have these fully equipped with their turrets, gun carriers, fuel tanks and other essential fittings. “At Addington there is also pronounced activity in completing various types of linen flax machines. Eleven deseeders, eight tow shakers, seven scutchers and 22 hay carts have been delivered and others are in a welladvanced state. Trained men from Addington are busy at various flaxfibre factories erecting, overhauling and otherwise attending to the equipment of these new works, which have given birth to a new and important industry.

The principal war effort of the Jlillside tradesmen is centred at the moment on the manufacture of 3in. mortars and in performing the machine work in connection with others, which will be completed by a private firm. The making of those mortars involves a considerable amount of skill in the production and assembly of a score or more intricate minor parts.

“Both these well-equipped railwav workshops in the South Island, while carrying out the important regular work of the department, are also busily employed in completing a variety of work, for various firms handling a large amount of the munitions programme.”