64 T. H. HOUGHTON. 



Shipbuilding, one of the oldest industries of the State, 

 has by the construction of the cruiser "Brisbane" and 

 the destroyers at Cockatoo Dockyard, been rapidly advanced 

 in importance, and the establishment by the State Govern- 

 ment of large engineering Works at Newcastle capable of 

 building vessels of considerable dimensions, will I hope, 

 ultimately lead to a greater number of vessels being con- 

 structed in the State. 



The creation of the Small Arms factory at Lithgow by 

 the Federal Government, is a step towards making us more 

 self contained, and in addition, the training in the use of 

 tools of precision with which the works are equipped, will 

 have its good influence on future workmen. 



In coal mining also, the introduction of machinery" has 

 had a marked influence on its progress. 



It would weary you were I to mention all the industries 

 in the advancement of which the engineer has played a 

 prominent part, but I cannot leave this subject without 

 mentioning the great industry that has arisen as a result 

 of the wise determination of the Government to, as far as 

 possible, have all locomotives required for the State rail- 

 ways manufactured here. In 1905 a contract was let to 

 The Clyde Engineering Co. for sixty locomotives, the aver- 

 age weight being 75 tons, delivery to be made at the rate 

 of ten per year, 750 tons a year, thus requiring six years 

 to complete the contract. The last engine of this contract 

 was finished within five years, together with an additional 

 order for a further fifteen engines, the output for the last 

 year being 1,425 tons. A second contract was then given 

 to the same firm for fifty engines of a heavier class weigh- 

 ing 82 tons each, to be delivered at the rate of two per 

 month, and in 1912 a third contract for 100 engines, 

 each weighing about 83J tons, thirty-six to be delivered 

 each year. So satisfied were the authorities with the work 



