ENGLISH CLOTHS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23495, 25 November 1941, Page 8

ENGLISH CLOTHS

EXPORTS TO AUSTRALIA (0.C.) SYDNEY, November 17. After statements last week that English shoes are being shipped lo Australia to the detriment of local manufacturers who are tied down to Army boot contracts, allegations were made this week that a similar position existed in regard to suitings. Mr Clark, New South Wales Labour member in the House of Representatives, stated that suits for men and costumes for women are available in Australia in British cloths in 350 separate patterns, while Australian civilian materials are almost exhausted. The cost of the British cloths is twice that of comparable Australian materials, said Mr. Clark, and Australians have to pay 12 guineas for suits that should be available for eight guineas. Supplies from Leeds are apparently unlimited, and the 350 patterns may be ordered in lengths as little as 2J yards for sports coats and 1J yards for trousers, said M: Clark, who was a tailor before he entered Parliament. “British mills are able to work full time on tweeds and worsteds, but Australian mills must devote 70 per cent, o? their output to service requirements,” he added. “Allotment of orders by the Supply Dep&tment on this basis is creating unfair competition with Australian mills, wasteful use of shipping, and creating a serious postwar employment problem. “Delivery of English cloth is guaranteed. so apparently shipping space is available. Valuable space is being taken up by sending raw wool to England and having It re-exported as cloth to Australia, while Australian mills could make cloths of equal quality and at lower prices. Pattern makers and other skilled Australian workers are losing their skill through lack of experience.” The Minister for Supply (Mr Beasley) will the matter when reviewing supply orders placed in Australia by the Eastern Supply Group at Delhi.