HOT WATER BAGS

Grey River Argus, 2 May 1942, Page 6

HOT WATER BAGS

Stoppage of Sales N.Z. RUBBER SHORTAGE. P.A. WELLINGTON, May 1The stocks of hot-water bags held by retailers, otner than tne cnemists, are now frozen, until further notice, and they must not be sold, while the chemist may sell them only on the order of a registered medical practitioner. In an explanatory statement, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan saia: “This action is being taken because of tne acute shortage of ruboer for manufacture, and the uncertainty of New Zealand’s future supplies of rubber. The restriction of the sales would obtain, at least, until a survey of the stocks had been completed. He said: “Ail of the vendors must furnish declarations of slocks—and it will then be ascertained whether there would be a surplus over and above the Dominion’s requirements for medical uses.”

The public would realise, he added, that if there wer e going to be a shortage, the supplies on hand must be reserved for hospitals and for sick people in the first instance. If, as was likely to be tne case, there were not sufficient hot-water bags for general sale, he was confident that the public would resort to' non-rub-ber hot-water bottles.