MILITARY CLOTHING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 265, 7 October 1940, Page 8

MILITARY CLOTHING.

BIG SUPPLIES REQUIRED. DEMANDS ON MILLS. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 6. “The demand for .-clothing for our Military Forces has thrown a very heavy responsibility on the clothing trade and the woollen mills of the country,” said the Minister of Supply (Hon. D. Gi Sullivan) to-day. “The responsibility was intensified by the fact that the demand came with remarkable rapidity and grew phenomenally. As the need for training increased numbers of men became apparent the 'industry rallied to the task splendidly, and 1 am deeply grateful to all concerned, .manufacturers and workers, for the excellent manner in which they have met the intensified demand.

“Due heed has been given to the requirements of the civilian population, and I am hopeful that our mills and workrooms will be able to release greater quantities of consumer goods lor this purpose. Everything must naturally be subordinated to the requirements for the defence forces, and it is well to remember that the clothing and footwear in these forces is subjected to very heavy wear and tear. There will, therefore, be continued heavy demands on industry for replacements to the forces serving overseas. With planned organisation of production, however, this demand will cause no insurmountable trouble. This diversion of our factories’ output had had some effect on the value of consumer goods produced for civilian requirements, but up to the present it has had no substantial effect upon the retail trade. PRODUCTION RECORD.

“No effort is being spared, nor will it be spared,” said Mr Sullivan, “to maintain at as high a level as possible, stocks of goods for civilian consumption. Since the outbreak of war and up to September 30 we have produced, among other things, 116,000 juairs of blankets, 65,000 jerseys, 500,000 cubic yards of tunic cloth, 263,000 yards of great-coating, 750,000 yards of flannel shirting, 535.000 pairs of socks, 52,750 blouses for battlcdress, 53,100 pairs of trousers for battledress, “The figures themselves speak eloquently of the effort called for,” said Mr Sullivan, “and I am pleased with the response the industry has given to the call. The footwear industry, too, has been mobilised, and the work of producing the necessary boots for the army has made exacting demands. To ensure maximum production, orders have been spread in a similar manner to the order for clothing. The industry has marshalled all its resources aiid Ijas maintained supplies excelcellently. ' , 1

“In all work turned out the quality

is of the highest a.nd our troops overseas and in New Zealand are clothed and shod in ia manner very favourably comparable with anything produced elsewhere. To meet' the demands of defence forces, our footwear factories have produced 240,000 pairs of boots, and that is a really worth-while achievement, on which the industry , can be complimented.” j