AUSTERITY SUITS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24875, 22 April 1944, Page 6

AUSTERITY SUITS

RESTRICTIONS RELAXED * ! TROUSER CUFFS BACK WOMEN'S KNITTED WEAR (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday Amendments to the austerity suit specifications and to the specification affecting the manufacture of certain other clothing have been gazetted. The amendments permit double-breasted coats where no waistcoat is provided, flaps on pockets, trousers with full cuffs, pleats and a bottom width not exceeding 22 inches. The restrictions on women's knitted outerwear have been j removed, while other modifications of a minor nature have also been made. The Minister of Supply, the Hon. 1). G. Sullivan, said this • afternoon that while he did not wish to convey the impression that there was no longer need to exercise strict economy in the use of available materials, the position had somewhat in that the shortage of manpower was now the most pressing problem. As indicted when the simplification measures had been introduced, opportunity was being taken as the circumstances changed to review the specifications and it had now been found possible to remove some of the restrictions, added Mr. Sullivan, who reaffirmed that there could be no question about the necessity for these measures at the time they were introduced. . . "Manufacturers welcome the position that has enabled the Minister to modify the simplified clothing regulations," said Mr. Lan Matheson, president of the New Zealand Manufacturers' Association, to-night. "in spite of contentions to the _ contrary, the regulations had, in their ramifications over the whole trade, effected a definite saving in cloth and this economy was of value to the national effort. Doubtless the Minister's announcement will be received with pleasure by consumers, and it is our job outside war production to meet the wishes of the consuming public. As certain aspects of the relaxation facilitate labour saving, the present announcement will be particularly welcome to manufacturers at a time when the labour shortage has become so much more acute." E.P.S. CONTRIBUTION TOWN BOARD REFUSES COMMENT BY THE MAYOR After considering estimates for the current financial year at its last meeting the Henderson Town Board carried the following motion: "That the Metropolitan Emergency Precautions Service be advised that the Henderson Town Board will make no contribution toward the Metropolitan Emergency Precautions Service expenditure for the year 1944-45, as the board considers that in view of the present circumstances the organisation should be disbanded." "In the first place, an Emergency Precautions Service constituted under emergency regulations is not empowered to disband," said the Mayor, Mr. J. A. C. A Hum, when he was asked yesterday to comment on the resolution as chairman of the E.P.S. central committee. "Secondly, if it had such power, the Auckland organisation could not go out of existence overnight. Its activities, which were on a very large scale at one time, have been reduced to an absolute minimum. All that is being done is to keep the central administration operating, to maintain the air raid shelters, including the Albert Park tunnels, in proper order until other arrangements can be made in regard to them, and, finally, to safeguard very large stocks of equipment." A plan had been put forward whereby the E.P.S. would be relieved of all financial and other responsibility for the tunnels, the Mayor added. Expenses of administration were negligible. The equipment he had mentioned would bo disposed of to the best advantage when it was possible to do so, and if there was a credit balance on realisation it would be divided pro rata among the Government and the contributing local bodies. Obviously it would uot be in the local bodies' interest to sacrifice valuable assets by forced sale. In the meantime they were all committed to their respective shares in the small expense of maintaining the organisation this year. LOSS OF MAIL LETTERS FROM MIDDLE EAST (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday The Postmaster-General, the Hon. P. C. Webb, announced to-day the loss of a mail from the New Zealand forces in the Middle East. It consisted of postings made toward the end of January and comprised 19 bags of lettera, 24 bags of packets and newspapers, and 113 bags of parcels. The Minister added that at present some delay was occurring in the transit of surface mails to and from the Middle East, but it was expected that the position would be normal again within the next few weeks. FLYING CROSS AWARD NEW PLYMOUTH AIRMAN (0.C.) NEW PLYMOUTH. Friday The Distinguished Flying Cross has been awarded to Flying-Ofiicer W. B. Lambert, only son of Mr. and Mrs. G. V. Lambert, of New Plymouth, according to official advice received by his parents to-day. Flying-Officer Lambert, who is 23 years of age, was born at New Plymouth and was educated at the New Plymouth Boys' High School. He later joined the Public Service. After training in New Zealand he left for England in July, 1942. He was a prominent rifleman, both at school and as a member of the New Plymouth Defence Rifle Club. CRAWLED UNDER TRAIN BOY SERIOUSLY INJURED (0.C.) GKF.YMOUTH, Friday An accident occurred at inangahua Landing yesterday afternoon when Lester O'Regan, aged 6, was run over by a work train as it was leaving Lho station. The accident was not observed but the child was found on the track suffering from serious injuries. He was conveyed to the Reefton Hospital where his right foot was amputated. He is also suffering from head injuries and shock. A number of children were playing in a goods shed before the train left and apparently the boy wandered away from his companions and crawled under the train CRUSHED AGAINST GATE While herding cattle yesterday, Mr. Albert Phillips, single, aged 41. a farmer, of Reweti, suffered a fractured thigh when he was crushed by a horse against a gate. He was taken to the Auckland Hospital, where his condition last night was not serious. INJURED IN FALLS Three women were admitted to the Auckland Hospital yesterday suffering from injuries received in falls. Two of them were in a fairly serious condition last night._ As a result of falling at her home Mrs. Laura Elizabeth Ingram, aged 77. of Ramarama, suffered a fracture of the left leg. Her condition last night was fairly serious. A fracture of the left thigh was suffered by Miss Ada Annie Feltham, aged 58, of 18 Awatea Road, ParnelJ, when she fell near the bu« terminal yesterday afternoon. Her condition last night also wa§ fairly serious. When she slipped in Hobson Street .Mrs. Sarah McGarvie, a widow, aged 89, of 56 Williamson Avenue, suffered a fractured right thigh.