HARDWARE SUPPLIES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22204, 23 February 1942, Page 4

HARDWARE SUPPLIES

Shortage In Some Lines WELLINGTON, Feb. 21. The question of supplies was prominent in discussions at a conference in Wellington of the New Zealand Hardware Guild. It was stated that there was no 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 part of all merchant distributors to give preference to contractors engaged on defence works. The hardware trade, in common with other commercial distributors, disliked restraint and regulations, but nevertheless it had expressed its desire to cooperate with the Government in times of emergency, and was eager to assist the authorities with priorities in distribution where that was called for. It 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 were steel, galvanised water pipe, certain electrical equipment such as cable and wire, galvanised sheets, and spouting, but the Minister of Supply was continuing to make every effort to obtain these, and there were indications that some of the shortages would be overcome in the not too distant future.