SUPPLY OF CIVILIAN CLOTHING

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 125, 22 February 1944, Page 4

SUPPLY OF CIVILIAN CLOTHING

Garment Control Council’s Survey SIX MONTHS’ PRODUCTION

Results of the garment production survey concerning the first six months of 1944 were reviewed in Wellington nt the second meeting of the National Garment ■Control Council, Mr. S. Howard Hunter presiding. The council examined these results in conjunction with the Rationing Controller’s and the stabilization’ basis of requirements of essential civilian garments, together with the further military clothing requirements which would have to be produced in that period.

“When the survey of estimated production during the six months ui> to June next was taken recently manufacturers were asked to concentrate their efforts on the most critically short types of civilian garments and, in general, the results showfi by the survey indicate that this is being done.” says a statement issued yesterday. “However, in view of the inadequacy of the number of operatives in the garment manufacturing industry, with the resulting idle machinery, there is still a possibility of serious deficiencies developing in essential garment supplies. This is an immediate problem which has been accentuated by the fact that there are still extensive military clothing requirements to be produced by the industry and these have first priority. “The council was impressed with the need for every manufacturer to concentrate his efforts with his available manpower on the production of those items which are now known to be in most critical supply. Information on these items is being referred through the garment manufacturers’ federation to each district, so that the industry will be kept apprised of the classes of garments the production of which should he concentrated on to the greatest extent possible. Periodic Reviews.

“The data .received from the survey have proved intensely valuable for planning purposes, but it was found necessary to institute some means' of reviewing the progress actually made under the overall planning, at shorter intervals than the six monthly period. The council, therefore, is obtaining through the sectional garment manufacturers’ federations a regular periodic summary of the actual production achieved throughout the Dominion in respect to each essential civilian garment. In view of the importance of this periodic review of the position, the council felt that every manufacturer must give his full support to the provision of the information regarding his own firm’s activities, and thus ensure a comprehensive picture being obtained at regular intervals.

“As in all forms of planning undertaken to avert the development of critical shortages, the efforts put forward depend for their effectiveness on their being spread among all sections of the community. Manufacturers and their staffs of operatives will require to direct their wholehearted efforts into the production activity, while the general public should direct its btrying rights to only those garments of which it is in need. If the individual purchaser will act in this manner the supplies cf garments available to the public will be equitably spread among the whole of the community. “Among the other questions discussed by the council were matters relating to standards and. simplified practice specifications, the disposal of reconditioned Army clothing, and the decentralization of the industry by the establishment of branches in provincial towns where labour is available.

The National Garment Control Council, as already stated in the Press by the Minister of Supply and Munitions, consists of a representative of each of the sectional garment manufacturers’ federations, together with the Factory Controller, the Sub-Controller of Textiles, Ministry of Supply, the Controller of Manpower, and a representative of the Stabilization Commission and Price Tribunal.

“Some constitutional matters were also brought to completion at the meeting, Mr. Hunter, president of the New Zealand council of garment manufacturers’ federations, being appointed chairman, and Mr. R. Wilson, assistantsecretary of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, as secretary of the council.”