WAR MATERIAL AND SUPPLIES

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 5, 7 January 1916, Page 4

WAR MATERIAL AND SUPPLIES

NEW ZEALAND'S TASK.

SOME INTERESTING DETAILS.

(nr TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND,. 6th January,

Some interesting details of the work of the Munitions and Supplies Department were given, by the Hon. A. M. Myere to-night. The magnitude of the business invested in the maintenance of troops in eatables, such as meat, bread, potatoes, etc., said'Mr Myers, can tie gauged from the fact that the ration in New Zealand consists of a daily supply of the following articles : —Fresh meat, bread, butter, potatoes, cheese, jam, flour, oatmeal, onions, sugar, salt, tea, and fresh milk. Taking an army of 30,000 men,'the number that will go into camp during this year. 40,0001b of meat, 37,0001b of bread, 75001b. of buttsr, and 30.0001b of potatoes will be required per day, or' 4.106,"2501b of meat, 3,421.87 Mb of 'bread, 674,3751b of butter, and 2,737,5001b of potatoes for three months.

To give somo' idea of the activity of the Department in its buying operations in this connection, it<may be stated that during the last six month's it has, among other items for consumption, purchased tire following -.—Fresh meat, 2,065,0481b; preserved meat, 228.4601b; bniter, 390,4501b ; jam, 530,0791b ; bacon, 38,920 lb, cheese, 255.5191b: potatoes, 1,243,023 lb; bread, 1,022,8831b. Then, to illustrate the scope of. supplies required from the woollen mills, I'may. quote the following figures :—Over half a million yardi> of khnki cloth for uniform clothing, 156,720 grey blankets, 156,000 pairs socks, 110,400 undershirts. 110.490 underpants, 60.000 cholera belts, 62,000 puttees, .40,000 khaki jerseys, and 100,000 pairs boots. It became evident in ' August and September last that the combined capacity of- the woollen mills of New Zea land wa6 inadequate for meeting: the demands of both ordinary and military consumption at the same time. When largo supplies of material were required by the Defence Department, they were short tendered for, and as there .was, moreover, not time for the mills to produce the fabrics required, it became necessary to supply immediate naeds from stocks held. This change of system occasioned a deviation from the sealed samples of the Department, and made it essential that tho acquisition of supplies required should be carried out by export men. Two "successful Wellington business men not connected in *.i wholesale way with the sale of New Zealand-iprodnced articles, Mr. Sydney -Kirkcaldie, of Kirkcaldie and Stains, and Mr. ,T. L. Morrison, representative in New Zealand of I. n.nd R. Morley, of England, wero generous enougn to place their services gratuitously, at the Government's disposal. Orders were then placed direct with the woollen mills for ,tho production of -woollen articles required up to the end of 1915. As a. result of careful handling, the requisite supplies wero arranged for satisfactorily, despite a difficulty at the time of obtaining raw wool at reasonable prices.