WOOLLEN GOODS.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13729, 18 March 1915, Page 4

WOOLLEN GOODS.

HEAVY ORDERS TO BE FILLED

[United Press Association.]

Wellington, March 17

A representative of the Federal Government arrived by the Itiverina, in. order to purchase supplies of woollens for the Australian. Army. He has orders for 96,000 navy sweaters, 212,000 knitted underpants, 200,000 knitted shirts, 240,000 pairs of socks, and 1,112,000 yards of flannel, the last item alone costing £60,000. It is doubtful if the whole of the mills of New Zealand can supply the order. A representative of the Bruce Woollen Mills states t«hat at present merchants and millers are putting up with "inconveniencel and loss of trade in order to supply the requirements of our own. forces. " Australia's demand accentuates the position, and will mean, curtailing the requirements of the Dominion and the raising of prices until they become almost prohibitive. The Federal Government is prepared to accept 10 per cent, cotton mixture,, but the New Zealand duty of 4d per lb. on raw cotton shuts that out. He suggested that th<: Government should lift the duty, enabling the returning troopships t)o bring supplies from Egypt.