OVER 1,000,000 GARMENTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 293, 10 December 1943, Page 3

OVER 1,000,000 GARMENTS

A tribute to the women and girls of New Zealand who have knitted woollen comforts for the forces is paid in a National Patriotic Board statement. Returns for the 12 months ended September 30 last are not yet complete, but from the outbreak of war to the end of September, 1942, New Zealand women have knitted over 1,000,000 garments for the patriotic organisation.

Mainly because these woollen garments are issued through the services or are held in reserve to meet war emergencies, the results of this work by women all over New Zealand do not come prominently before the public. This is acknowledged in the report, and also the fact that the knitters are making a most valuab'e contribution to the patriotic war effort. "The appreciation of our men," the report adds, "is their only reward."

At present, the board reports, stocks of khaki woollens are good, but stocks of Navy and Air Force woollens are very low. Because of the considerable expansion that has taken place in the Air Force, assistance is particularly needed from khaki knitters to cope with the Air Force requirements.

The Air Department has approved of the board's proposal that AitForce sleeveless pullovers, gloves and hussifs be made a Service issue instead of being a patriotic issue, and this has eased the position to some extent. Nevertheless thousands of Air Force comforts will still be required, and to help meet the position before next winter the patriotic councils are being asked to transfer khaki knitters to Air Force knitting. The New Zealand Navy League War Council will also require extra assist* ance.

Stocks of khaki woollens held in the Middle East were sufficient for two issues of balaclavas, scarves and mittens for each New Zealander there. Since then it has been announced that the New Zealanders are in Italy, and it is therefore possible that at a later date further supplies will be required from New Zealand and some re-organisation of knitting plans may be necessary. In the meantime assistance is required from khaki knitters to make Air Force and Navy comforts.