BUILDING UP RESERVES

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17250, 18 August 1916, Page 7

BUILDING UP RESERVES

MILITARY SUPPLY ORGANISATION. CONSIDERATION FOR THE • PUBLIC. [From Ock Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, August 17. “ How' will the general public fare for clothing and hoots when the Minister of Munitions is buying by the hundred thousand?” is a question which naturally arises just now. The answer, as obtained by a representative of the “Lyttelton Times” from the Minister of Munitions, is reassuring. While good reserves of supplies have been built up for our soldiers, the factories of New Zealand have so admirably adapted themselves to the war demands that there ought to be no serious inconvenience to the ordinary purchaser of their products. “We have studied the consumer’s interests,” states Mr Myers, “by arranging with +ho woollen factories to supply tlioir largest deliveries during the winter mouths, thus freeing them to a certain extent to cater for the domestic demand. The same thing has been done ivith boot and clothing factories. Although it is not possible, owing to the large military demand, to satisfy all domestic requirements, it is found that under these conditions the general publio lias not been seriously inconvenienced.” When the fire occurred at Trentbam Camp it was realised that its most serious aspect would have been the destruction of stores of clothing needed for incoming reinforcements. Good luck and prompt salvage disposed of this difficulty, but had the whole supply been burned in camp, the reserves stored elsewhere would have enabled troops to he equipped without delay. These stocks have been steadily built lip during the past year, in accordance with the policy of the Minister of Munitions. The Defence Department is now in the satisfactory position of not being obliged to periodically send out urgent rush orders, to he got at any cost.

The present director of transport and supplies, Major Wright, has been granted leave to accompany the Expeditionary Forces, and his position will be filled by Captain Ostler, now attached to the Headquarters Staff. This Department has now been so thoroughly organised that certain economies can be effected in its administration, and all business connected with the purchase of military supplies will be conducted from thf* Military' Supplies Purchase Office, under the control of the Minister of Munitions, whose honorary adviser's nro Messrs A. H. Miles, Alexander Macintosh and George Wilson, constituting the Supplies Board of Advice.