BABY WEAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 66, 19 March 1943, Page 4

BABY WEAR

ACUTE SHORTAGE

. "A recent survey made by the Plunket Society disclosed that materials for baby clothes are unobtainable throughout New Zealand," stated Mrs. A. N. Grigg (National, Mid-Canterbury) in the House of Representatives yesterday, when she gave a notice of question on the subiect to the Minister of Supply. She asked the Minister if he was aware of the alarming shortage of baby wool and cot blankets, and whether he would take steps to rectify the position Replying later to Mrs. Grigg's question, Mr. Sullivan said that he was aware of the acute shortage and the problem had been of some concern to himself and his officers. Of necessity New Zealand had to rely on importations for the bulk of its baby wool because of the. fineness of the wool, but the Dominion had been successful in securing a reasonable quota from the United Kingdom. Owing to shipping difficulties, however, supplies had not come forward as expected. The main importers had received advice from their principals in the United Kingdom of a substantial proportion of New Zealand's quota having already been manufactured and of some shipments already on the way, but for obvious reasons it was not known when the wool would arrive. A further cable was being sent to the High Commissioner in London requesting him to do everything possible to have New Zealand's full quota shipped with the minimum possible delay. The Minister said that his recent announcement concerning considerably increased production of civilian blankets this year related to cot blankets as well as to full-size blankets. Cot blankets were now coming on to the market and should be available in increasing quantities shortly. Only that day he had received advice that one mill had made a recent distribution of 1200 pairs.