BABY'S OUTINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 142, 18 June 1942, Page 4

BABY'S OUTINGS

TRANSPORT PROBLEM

PRAMS GETTING SCARCE

No official figures are available as to the number of perambulators there are in Wellington: they do not have to be registered like motor-cars. But ask any pedestrian trying to make his way in a hurry along Willis Street on a Friday, and he will say that their num- | ber is legion. Most tram conductors, too, would agree that there are quite enough perambulators in Wellington. But such superficial observations dp not give a true picture of the state of affairs. Although the ■ position is not really acute yet, Wellington, in common with the rest of the Dominion, will be definitely faced with a shortage of perambulators, just as Australia is, according to a recent cable. The reasons are the same two that have caused shortages in other lines—lack of materials and lack of labour. In the good old days New Zealand used to import a fair number of its perambulators, especially the aristocrats or RollsRoyces in the perambulator world, but more recently it has had to 'depend very largely on the locally-manufac-tured article. But difficulties in getting materials have caused at least one large factory turning out perambulators to close its doors, and others are carrying on with a reduced output. THOUSANDS NEEDED ANNUALLY. Every year some 20,000 new babies make their appearance in New Zealand and survive to reach the perambulator stage. All, however, do not need to have new prams purchased for them: they may have older brothers or sisters, and the prams used for them are made to do again. But prams do not last for ever, and replacements are necessary. It is computed by one Wellington manufacturer of perambulators that the Dominion needs annually between 12,000 and 15,000 of these vehicles, and he was also of the opinion that nothing like this number would be forthcoming in the near future. Wellington, he thought, easily absorbed 1500 to 2000 perambulators a year. If babies continue to arrive at the average rate, it looks as if some of them, in the not too distant future will have to learn to walk before they can take .an outing, or else New Zealand mothers will have- to revert- to the Maori fashion of baby transport—wrap them in a shawl and carry them on their backs. It is continually being urged that the Dominion must keep up its population, and the Government builds thousands of houses for families to live in. It will soon have to. put up State perambulator factories. SECOND-HAND ONES IN DEMAND. But it is an ill wind that blows no j one any good. Possessors of no longer wanted second-hand perambulators, in I good condition are having no difficulty in disposing of them at good prices. One was advertised as being for sale in "The Post" a few'nights ago. "I got 27 replies," stated the advertiser, "and how -many more there were I don't know, for I did not take the trouble to collect them."