ORDER FOR BLANKETS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 177, 10 May 1935, Page 5

ORDER FOR BLANKETS

STATEMENT BY MINISTER. THE MANUFACTURERS’ REPLY. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 9. The New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, in reply to the statement by the Hon. S. G. Smith, that the woollen mills were not up to the high standard he had previously .supposed, because they could not make 27,000 pairs of blankets for the' Unemployment Board "as expeditiously as he would like,” says the fact is that the Unemployment Board did not decide until last month (April) that it would issue blankets to the unemployed this winter. Then, months too late, it suddenly resolved to place orders for 27,000 pairs. ! ; 7 ’ The woollen mills were already working almost* to full capacity in • manufacturing blankets to meet their ordinary trade orders hut they promised to make every effort to increase their production to its maximum to meet also this sudden last-minute rush order given by the Unemployment Board. Blankets are now being made as rapidly as possible, without holding up ordinary production, to meet the needs of the ordinary market. The Federation states that Mr Smith is unreasonable in blaming the woollen mills for the fact that these 27,000 extra pairs of blankets, ordered in a rush at the last minute, cannot all be manufactured and delivered within a. month of the order being placed. Surely the Unemployment Board, with ordinary foresight, might have thought of placing before the month of April its order for 27,000 pairs of blanket? wanted in May.