APPEAL REJECTED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 249, 2 August 1946, Page 3

APPEAL REJECTED

REMOVAL OF RESTRICTIONS ON WOMEN’S CLOTHES WASHINGTON, July 31. The Production Administrator, Mr John Small, rejected an appeal by the National Woolgrowers’ Association for the removal of the style restrictions on women’s clothes on the grounds that (he regulation was unnecessary, and a threat to the fashion avool industries. Mr Small. declared that two inches added to the length of Avomen’s skirts might cut the national economy by 50,000,000 fabric yards Avithin a year. “It seems to me,” lie said, “little enough to ask the women’s wear industry not lo make increased demands for the sake of frills and fashion changes.” He realised that avool was the only fabric of Avhich there was not an ’ acute shortage, but if women were able to buy Avoollen clothes Avitli unlimited length and sweep, no power this Government pos-„ sesses could prevent the same freedom of manufacture in cotton and rayon materials, of which there Avas a deficit. of 2,000,000,000 yards this year. Mr Small reported that America’s industrial output rose to the postwar maximum in June and promised in July to reach the pre-war record achieved in December, 1941. Mr Small, citing t lie increase of 5,000,000 in the labour force between February and May. drew attention to the probability that the serious labour shortage which Avas developing would limit production in the autumn. Labour demands would have to be filled from the depleted labour pool amounting at present to fewer than 4,000,000 workers.