COTTON PIECEGOODS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 19 June 1941, Page 2

COTTON PIECEGOODS

DRAPERY TRADE HARD HIT FUTURE OF SUPPLIES Fashion is notoriously dictatorial. Will it decree the general adoption in New Zealand of the loin cloth of the Pacific Islanders? A serious view of future supplies of goods in the piece is taken by the drapery trade of New Zealand <states “The Post"). Its official organ reports that so far there is no clarity regarding the restric- j tions on the export (.£ cotton piece- j goods from the United Kingdom—“a i move that is of vital significance to this' Dominion. According to advice-lrom the United Kingdom the cut brought about largely through snip- j ping difficulties and its effect here | means that it is unlikely that this coun-! try will receive more than a third of; j the importation for the period ex- • tending from May to August of last I year.” The situation is not improved!

lills are working at an increasing rat n military orders. It is held Ihi the time has arrived when every ei leavour should be made to keep th etail drapery trade alive until bette imes come again alter the war. “Employees in the retail draper rade represent a big proportion of th 5,000 retail stores’ employees in th Dominion, and any undue restrictioi n the normal channels of the trac nust inevitably have their repercu: ions on the unemployment situation The present is no time when an jovernment can be blamed. Ever ifTort must be turned towards winnir he war. Certain circumstances ii eparable from the greatest struggle < ill time between the nations of 11 vorld must bring discomfort and sevei lardship. “At the same time there is no reasc vhy that hardship should not be mil ;ated in some degree if it is at a jossible.” the journal continues, ai: idds: “We are all willing to play ot >art, but it is desirable that the bu ien of sacrifice should be spread ; ivenly as may be arranged.” THE DOLLAR PROBLEM With the restriction on dollar fun< I the trade is turning its eyes towan India as a source of cotton goods, b’ tis not yet clear how far the restri .ions will apply to that source, fro .he financial point of view. The Unit< States as a source of f upply is nece sarily ruled out by the realisation th dollar credits would be drawn on. Reference is made to the drastic cu in imports of cotton by the Uniti Kingdom. However, restrictions ir posed on exports to New Zealand ai Dther countries will be temporary on as it is recognised that full expo trade should be resumed at the earlic possible moment. It has been staled definitely th there will be a shortage of woolli parns. As far as cotton is concerm the first principle in Britain is th Government requirements must be mi Next, a portion is to be devoted to tl establishment of dollar credits in no Empire countries; a proportion of tl residue will be devoted to Empi trade; and the balance allocated needs of the Home market. “Just how serious the position is far as the average British citizen concerned has been revealed in tl recent announcement that clothing h been placed on the ration list,” remar the “New Zealand Draper.” "The in call is for work for the Army nee and the labour problem, which being aggravated to an increasing e tent by the call for workers in oth fields, including the armed forces, is no easy puzzle to solve. AN URGENT PROBLEM “At the same in New Zealar the drapery trade recognises t urgency of alleviating the trouble some measure. The fact that the r strictions apply only to those colt goods for which raw materiul has be purchased and does not affect goo already in stock or in process of bei made hardly affects the position, is unlikely that this will offer any 1 lief. British rationing shows that, is more likely that these lower-pric goods will be kept for the use of t British people themselves. “Representations should be made once before the trouble becom chronic. There may be a solutic though it must be made clear that Solution that would work against t successful conduct of the war is e pected. In the meantime, the full d tails of the scheme are not clear a until we know them we are at a d advantage. “But the advantages of finding a p£ tial answer at least to the threat the retail drapery trade are great, a the fact that so many employees w be affected should be sufficient ince tive to push forward with the job. “Up to date the drapery trade h been hard hit in other directions, a it would be more than unfortunate it had to suffer again.”