SPORTS MATERIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26229, 13 August 1946, Page 4

SPORTS MATERIAL

OUTLOOK FOR SUMMER SLOW DELIVERY OF SUPPLIES “According to our latest information cricket balls are going to be in extremely short supply in England,” said a local dealer in sports goods when discussing, with a Daily Times reporter yesterday the outlook in regard to material during the coming summer. He added that cricket balls had almost doubled in price in England, and balls which had sold here last year at I6s would this ’year retail at 26s and yet would show a smaller return to the dealer A 'reasonable quantity of cricket balls was available from Australia, he continued, but shipping space presented a problem. Fairly adequate quantites of cricket bats were coming forward, it was stated, but deliveries were slow. There would be a fair supply of racket frames and sufficient gut to meet requirements at the start of the tennis season, the dealer said, but the position relating to stocks of gut for the balance of the season was obscure at the moment. A considerable quantity of tennis balls' had been ordered from England and Australia, but only a limited number of Australian balls was available at the moment. Baseball material was coming forward slowly, he stated, and sufficient supplies should be in hand to meet the season’s requirements. There was a good supply of bats and balls, but there was a shortage of mitts which, however,. were expected before the season opened. ‘ ■■■ ■"•' ‘ \ •There is a complete dearth of golf balls at present,” he said. “ Only very limited quantities have arrived from England, and it is apparent that there will not be much easing of the. position for some time to come.”