MAJOR ITEM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 July 1942, Page 3

MAJOR ITEM

IN NEV/ ZEALAND’S WAR EFFORT CONSTRUCTION of naval craft MINISTER GIVES SOME FACTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Giving particulars of New Zealand’s naval construction programme today, the Minister of Supply (Mr Sullivan) stated that details had to be limited for security reasons, but that when the full story of the country’s war effort was told after the war, work in shipyards would take its place as

a major item. Already, the Minister added, three composite mine-sweepers had been constructed and were in commission and the men manning them spoke in the highest terms of their construction and seaworthiness. While it was not possible to give details of other vessels under construction, he could say that the riveting hammers were being kept very busy and that workers were spending long hours on a programme which included mine-sweep-ers, 110 foot Fairmile patrol vessels, and 72 foot harbour defence launches. Engines for the mine-s.weepers were being built in New Zealand. The Fairmile vessels were mostly an assembly job, the extent of which would not be realised by the public until the vessels were seen afloat.

Mr Sullivan paid a tribute to the Australian and British governments for helping with supplies of essential materials and equipment, but said the greatest debt of gratitude was due to the workmen who were working long hours, often in exposed positions, to get the vessels into the water in the shortest possible time. He was sure increasing deliveries of material would bring a still greater effort.