Cost of Men’s Thousers

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 66, Issue 5603, 9 April 1943, Page 6

Cost of Men’s Thousers

Dangling in each hand a pair of men’s trousers—one pair made from New Zealand wool.and the other of imported American cotton—before an audience at Ashburton last Saturday evening, Mr W. J. Polson, M.P. for Stratford, declared that having to import American cotton instead of using New Zealand wool was fantastic. He said that the trousers were made in New Zealand, the woollen garments being retailed at 14s lid, and the trousers of American cotton at 18s. “If we had the manpower available the manufacturer of the garments could supply the whole population of New Zealand with the woollen trousers at an «?ven cheaper retail price,” said Mr Polson. The decline in the production of trousers alone was such that the manufacturer referred to now had working only five looms in his factory. New Zealand had to continue importing American cotton goods instead of utilising New Zealand wool, he said.