HARDWARE SUPPLIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 16 February 1942, Page 4

HARDWARE SUPPLIES

GUILD UIS< USSES POSITION The question of supplies was prominent in discussions at a conference, held in Wellington last week, of the New Zealand Hardware Guild. It was taled that there was i.o denying that there was a shortage of some commodities of vital importance to the war effort and to domestic requirements. There was a determination on the Dart ol all merchant distributors to give preference to conntractors engaged on defence works. The hardware trade, m common with other commercial distributors, disliked restraint and regulations, but nevertheless it had expressed its desire to cooperate v. ith the Government in times of emergency, and was eager to assist the authorities with priorities in distribution where that was called for. I* would be fair to say that when goods or commodities were in ample supply it was felt that the competitive spirit was in the best interests of the consuming public and merchants alike. Lines in short supply at the moment v ere steel, galvanised water pipe, certain electrical equipment such as cable and wire. galvanised sheets, and spouting, but the Ministry of Supply v: : continuing to make every effort to obtain these, and there were indications that some of the shortages would be overcome t the not too distant future