TORCH BATTERIES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIV, Issue 22723, 26 October 1943, Page 4

TORCH BATTERIES

Reason For Shortage

“One of our products which from time to time have been in short supply is flashlight torch and other dry batteries,” said Mi- D. I. Macdonald, secretary of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, Wellington, when referring to recent comments about the shortage of batteries for cycle lamps and home radio sets in rural areas. “While the bulk of the output of the plant engaged in their manufacture is at present going to meet the needs of various branches of the armed forces, the plant could still very substantially meet full civilian requirements if it were not for lack of manpower, which is the cause particularly of the immediate shortage of cycle batteries and other classes of torch batteries. The company arranges its production so that the bulk of its output for civilian requirements is confined to ordinary torch battery refills, as these are the most essential and most in demand for civilian needs.

“The production of special types of batteries, particularly with the present manpower shortage, materially restricts this normal output. For instance, for every 1000 cycle lamp refills which are produced, there is a loss of production of nearly 12,000 standard flashlight refills. As well as being more in demand by the general public, these latter can be used (with perhaps some slight contravention of traffic regulations which could well be ignored under present circumstances) by cyclists as well as pedestrians and other civilians. It is understood that a limited number of cycle batteries is shortly to be distributed by arrangement with the Ministry of Supply. “At the present time over 60 operatives are required by the factory to get into production on materials which have been available now for some months, but cannot be manufactured because of the manpower shortage which, if it were overcome would allow practically the whole demand from civilians to be supplied by the manufacturer.’’