DOMINION NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 17 March 1915, Page 7

DOMINION NEWS.

A LARGE ORDER

WOOLLEN SUPPLIES FOR AUSTRALIA.

BY TEIiEGBAPH —PEESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, March 17. A representative of the Federal Government arrived by the Riverina in -order to purchase supplies of woollens for the Australian army. He has placed orders for 96,000 navy sweaters, 212,000 knitted underpants, 200,000 knitted shirts, 240,000 pairs spx, and 1,112,000 yards flannel, the last item alone costing £60,000. It is doubtful if the whole of the mills of New Zealand can supply the order. A representative of the Bruce woollen mills states that at present merchants andi millers are putting up with inconvenience and loss to the trade in order to supply the requirements of our own forces. Australia's demand accentuates the position, and will mean curtailing the requirements of the Doand the raising of prices until they become almost prohibitive. .The Federal Government is prepared to accept 10 per cent, of cotton mixture, but the New Zealand duty of 4d lb. on raw cotton shuts that out. He suggested that the Government lift the dutyj thus enabling returning troopshins to bring in supplies from Egypt. office.