WAR EFFORT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1941, Page 2

WAR EFFORT

USE OF LOCAL MACHINERY WAIRARAPA PROPOSAL. MATTER BEING BROUGHT BEFORE AUTHORITIES. A suggestion made by a correspondent, Mr R. C. Jordan, of Masterton, that all available machinery in the Wairarapa could be used to great advantage in assisting the country’s war effort has been endorsed by Mr A. J. Drew, engineering instructor at Wairarapa College. The member for Masterton, Mr J. Robertson, stated this . morning that he is bringing the matter- before the Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan. -

Mr Robertson added that he had previously discussed the matter with the authorities on other occasions. Before the war broke out, a census was taken of all manpower and equipment available in this and other districts. As for men displaced from the motor industry in one direction, he said, there should be no difficulty in reabsorbing them in ether directions. “A very sound idea,” said Mr Drew; referring to the proposals put forward by our correspondent. If skilled mechanics were out of work, he said, surely they would be useful for reconditioning or repairing motors. Some, indeed, would be useful for machine work, as many of the younger ones have had machin-, ery experience at the College. There must be some parts of war equipment that could be made locally. “It is up to the Government to indicate what is wanted,” said Mr Drew. “I am sure that something could be done here and that every possible assistance would be forthcoming.” ' A certain amount of work connected with the country’s war effort has been accomplished by the pupils of the engineering class of Wairarapa College, under the instruction of Mr Drew. A number of internal gauges and morse keys have been made there.. Morse keys, in fact, are still being made for the use of Air Force cadets. Twelve months ago the engineering class of Wairarapa College offered to work through the holidays in the production of any tools or implements required by the authorities. The question of pay for the boys and the instructor was raised by the authorities but was disposed of effectively by an offer to work without payment. Advice was then received that nothing could be found for them to do.