Silk Stocking Factory Working 16 Hours Daily

Northern Advocate, 18 November 1941, Page 3

Silk Stocking Factory Working 16 Hours Daily

[Per Press Association. —CODvrignlJ WELLINGTON. This Day.

Evidence of efforts being made to overcome the silk stocking shortage was given by a witness before’ the No. 4 Armed Forces Appeal Board in Wellington yesterday, during the hearing cf appeals by Bond’s Hosiery Mill (N.Z.), Ltd. The appeals were for Edward Wood, circular knitting machine operator, and Daniel Patrick Field, hosiery machine operator, and were on the grounds of public interest and hardship. James Staples, the company’s mill manager, said Wood was a hosiery machine operator and mechanic with five years’ experience and was not replaceable. His calling up would mean the lowering of production by more than 2000 pairs of stockings a week, and a consequent reduction in the ability of the factory to employ other labour. Concentrate On Wear To the Crown representative (Mr C. O. Bell), witness said that the j work could not be done by women.! because a night shift was worked. The machines were actually producing 16 hours a day. Whereas before the war the factory had been turning out nine or 10 styles of stockings, attention, was now being concentrated on giving the public those types which would wear as long as possible. Mr Bell: Why don’t you make ladderless hose? Witness: We can make ladderless hose quite easily, although not on these machines, but women don’t wear them because they have not the same appearance. The appeals were adjourned sine die. to be reviewed on February 28.