URGENT WAR NEEDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 November 1942, Page 2

URGENT WAR NEEDS

MET IN SALVAGE OF WASTE MATERIAL. ADDRESS BY MINISTER OF SUPPLY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “Shortages of essential materials have created major problems not only in New Zealand but also in all the United Nations,” said the Minister of Supply and Minutions, Mr Sullivan, when referring last night to what was being done to help meet these shortmaterials which could be refabricated ages by the salvage of waste or scrap and fashioned into new articles. He added that shortages had been inevitable and they had to be overcome by every means possible. Every small amount of raw material saved was contributing directly to the winning of the war. The salvage drives were part of a carefully planned campaign designed to secure critically important materials required, and to direct activity on a co-ordinated basis. Some of the uses to-which salvaged materials had been put in New Zealand were outlined by the Minister. At one of the railway workshops there were a number of old axles, and these were refabricated. Today the Army had some splendid mortars; a year ago the material in them was scrap.' The bodies of the hand grenades manufactured in the Dominion in many cases came from scrap iron gathered in salvage drives. “Tomorrow’s battles are won with the supplies wo produce-today,” said the Minister. “To ensure the maximum use of all available material resources a Raw Materials Disposal Board operates in London and Washington. It we gather more rubbber than our two plants can use this board will direct us where to send the surplus. We propose providing the two local plants wth a stock pile calculated to maintain production for two years. Having met our own needs, we will dispose of any balance as directed. The United Nations need our help in this matter and I am sure we will all gladly render all the assistance we can.” From time to time, said the Minister, the public would be asked to contribute in addition to rubber the following commodities: .Paper for repulping, non-ferrous metals for refabricatioij, ointment and cosmetic jars for the medical services of the Army, and rags for the Army, Navy and Air Force. After outlining the organisation for

the salvage of rubber, the Minister said: “From the salvage you contributed the country gets vitally needed material, and the local patriotic fund receives and benefits by the net proceeds derived from its sale. Whether the appeals be for rubber, metals, paper or rags, they are all wanted for the nations good. The reclaimed materials will be transformed into weapons of war or essential civilian needs. Salvage is necessary to win the war, and to win the freedom of New Zealand and the freedom of the world.”