SUPPLIES OF CLOTHING

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24581, 1 June 1945, Page 4

SUPPLIES OF CLOTHING

BIG PRODUCTION RISE IN CERTAIN LINES

With production in some critical lines considerably increased and others well up on earlier totals, latest figures for the Dominion’s total garment production disclose a substantial and continuing improvement on the position of a year ago, says a statement issued by the National Gatment Control Council.,,, which representative' pf Government, and retail interests. was achieved in the face qf heavy war contract commitments, the council states, and is substantiated in the supply position of lines formerly drastically short and in the appearance of thepeople. : , • Till last December production figures for six months, compared with those of the preceding six months, showed an increase of 1,500,000 civilian gar* ments spread over a variety of lines, This .upward trend was carried over into this year, when in the first three months nearly 350,000 more garments were manufactured than in the same period of 1944. . ' - , 1 „ Faced with a serious shortage of women’s underwear at the beginning of last year, the industry took effective steps to overtake the position. Output either equalled or exceeded quantities required to meet the ration coupon issue. , , Successful measures- have also been taken to step-up production of men s sports coats and trousers. During the last six months of 1944 production In these items was almost double the total made in the first six months, and In the first quarter of 1945 production totalled 35,000 sports coats and 75.000 pairs of sports trousers, in addition to 59.000 pairs of working trousers. Shortages continued in certain categories of clothing, said the statement. Big shortages existed of men’s threepiece suits, shirts, and items of children’s clothing, but first priority had been accorded these items. The benefit of the arrangement was already apparent, as 27,350 suits had been manufactured during the first, quarter of this year.

supplies, gave preference to their own hotels, which were being conducted for them by managers; If they did, that preference must operate to the detriment of others hotels. Of the 224 hotels in the Auckland Province 90 were managed. There were 34 freehold hotels, while 80 hotels were leasehold.