CLOTHING TRADE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVIII, Issue LXXVIII, 16 June 1919, Page 5

CLOTHING TRADE

SUPPLIES SHORT

The present position in Auckland with regard to supplies of woollen goods and clothing is,without parallel in the lof.'u history of the trade. "There is not a singe suit, overcoat, rug,.or blanket in any of the Auckland warehouses today," stated the manager of a leading wholesale firm, when interviewed on the subject. "The clothing factories throughout New Zealand, are congested with work, and there is not a. hope of clearing off orders within the next twelve months. No benefit whatever has been fait from the release of military work, and at no time previously has the position been so acute as it is at present.'' Interviews with other representatives of the trade and retail clothiers confirmed this statement, although it was stated that retail stocks are at present good. "We have enough on hand to keep going on for about three months, but after that there is no telling where clothing is coming from, , nor how much it is going to cost," said one. Apparently the most acute shortage is in regard to men's suits, overcoats and other wear.

A Hawera shopkeeper told a Star representative that though he had already placftd orders for box suits for next Christmas, he had been informed by the manufacturers that the order could not be filled before February of next year.