WINTER SPORTS MATERIAL IN BETTER SUPPLY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22947, 16 May 1949, Page 4

WINTER SPORTS MATERIAL IN BETTER SUPPLY

The cancellation of licenses in the Dominion for the importation of sports gear has not acted as a deterrent to sport generally, for because of this New Zealand manufacturers are now contributing a large share to the sporting life through their ability to make articles—perhaps not superior to the imported lines—in such a supply as to meet a very large demand.

“The position this year as regards winter sports material is much better compared with last year,” stated a Gisborne sports dealer today. Though golf clubs cannot be imported from Britain, the shafts and heads in the “raw” state are obtained from there and assembled in New Zealand. The supply is still not good, because of a shortage of labour in Dominion factories. Balls, however, can be readily obtained.

This country has had to rely on its own resources for the manufacture of linings for footballs, both Rugby and soccer, and though the finished article is not superior to the English lining, the quality is quite fair.

English manufacturers are now operating in India and their specialty-hockey gear—has been received favourably in the Dominion. The sticks are better than the articles that were previously imported and the balls and pads are also of superior quality. Boxing gloves at present being manufactured in New Zealand have improved in quality and clubs are able to obtain them in fair supplies. Though frames are available, badminton shuttles are not plentiful. Better quality table tennis bats can be supplied to meet the demand, and the same applies to balls and nets. Where formerly balls were not easy to come by, they are now plentiful.