Percy Walker Nelles took charge in January 1934 and spent the next decade pressing for expansion. His procurement plans met opposition from those resisting defence spending and those demanding Canadian construction instead of British purchases. He favoured domestic production but challenged its advocates to identify yards and turbine works capable of delivering destroyers in time. Skilled workers alone could not supply the large machinery needed to manufacture the equipment. Buying and installing that machinery required public investment, which the government was reluctant to provide. National procurement ambitions therefore ran ahead of the industrial facilities needed to fulfil them.
Chapter · 11:24-14:24
Percy Nelles confronted industrial readiness
Percy Nelles argued that Canadian shipbuilding ambition required investment in turbines, machinery, yards, and production capacity before a crisis.