OUTWARD MUNITIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 March 1941, Page 6

OUTWARD MUNITIONS

AUSTRALIAN EFFORTS. MACHINE TOOL INDUSTRY. Due to the whole-hearted efforts in the entire field of engineering machine tools for munitions and aircraft production. covering a most extensive range, are being made in Australia today. A report issued in New Zealand .by the Australian Trade Commissioner (Mr C. E. Critchley) says that since tlie war there has sprung into being a vast, machine tool industry—practically a new development in Australia's production and the basis of her whole armament programme. "At the outbreak of war. Australian manufacture of machine tools was confined to three engineering firms and the Commonwealth Small Arms Factory. She was practically dependent for her machine tools on the United Kingdom. U.S.A.. Canada and European countries, including Germany. Today more than 30 firms in all the mainland States are turning out machine tools of all shapes and sizes.

"Tools already delivered or in construction number more than 4.300, valued at more than £3.000,001). These include huge hydraulic presses and shell-making machines. "Precision tools, gauges, jigs and fixtures. some of which are so line that i.liey have a tolerance of only ten thousandth of an inch, were being made at the outbreak of war by only live shops, 'Today there are more than 90 with tile number being added to each week. "It. is this ability to build her own machines which lias made possible the carrying out of Australia's tremendous munitions programme. More than one thousand skilled workmen have been (rained to do this work and in addition 4-1 training schools have been engaged in training ever-increasing numbers of men to join their ranks. 1! is this machine tool industry arid the training of thousands of workmen which in no small measure accounts for Hie taxation which each'of us has been called upon to bear this ye:;r. "This new industry lias come to stay. It will be as adaptable to the ends of peace as to those of war."