MUNITION SUPPLY

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21177, 29 July 1940, Page 2

MUNITION SUPPLY

‘'minister replies CHOICE OF DELEGATION ADVICE OF AUSTRALIANS (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) AUCKLAND, Monday Reference to the remarks of Mr J. Bum, managing director of the Precision Engineering Company, concerning the manufacture of munitions was made by the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. “The remarks of Mr Bum regarding munitions are incomprehensible, ’ said Mr Sullivan. He said that when the delegation was appointed to visit Australia most of the engineering manufacturers expressed a preference for someone other than Mr Bum to represent them and Mr J. Cable, of Wellington, was appointed in addition to several competent technical expert*. “The advice we had from the Australian experts was in many important respects the reverse of that given by Mr Bum. This particularly refers to the production of grenades,” continued Mr Sullivan. “Having only perfected the technique of grenade manufacture after many months of experiment, the Australian experts strongly advised the concentration of the work in one establishment. The manufacture of material for the centre-piece is so difficult that New Zealand was also advised not to attempt to make it but to import it." There never was any intention on the part of the Government to attempt all munition production in the railway workshops. It was fully intended to utilise suitable private engineering establishments to the utmost. “We want the work done,” said Mr Sullivan. "At the moment we are not concerned about any question of State versus private enterprise. To get the munitions at the greatest speed in the most efficient way is our only concern.”