WE WANT MORE GOODS

Te Puke Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 22, 21 March 1947, Page 3

WE WANT MORE GOODS

A LETTER FROAI LONDON MAY GIVE YOU A NEW SLANT The following is a letter written by a manufacturing firm in London forwarded to a representative at present touring New Zealand. We purposely remove any of the names but publish the letter so that our readers may have a first hand knowledge of what conditions are like in London. In our comparative comfort in New Zealand we have no conception of the difficulties of manufacture and even the process of living. “By now you will be on the move in New Zealand and I feel sure you will be getting a good reception wherever you go. “There lis not the slighest doubt but that you have read of the latest development here, and will, I am sure, appreciate this present fuel crisis which has resulted in practically the whole of industry being shut down, means quite a lot of our activities are being considerably hampered, and we do not yet know what is to he the duration of this shut down, or what the resulting effects on production will be, for our troubles will not be cured when the crisis is over and many weeks must pass before the industries can get going propertly again. As far as this office is concerned, we are carrying on as best we can and getting what cargo we are able to obtain shipped but a Jot of it is being l held up because there is either no power available, or the AA’orks are closed, or no transport. Furthermore, and what is chiefly troubling to us is we are working all day in 'the perishing cold, and nobody likes that —in fact our main thought is how to keep oiirsel ves w ann. “There is just one aspect about this particular matter which 1 am anxious to stress because you are sure to find during your trip round you will receive many enquiries from our friends about various orders, and tlk* v will want to know what is the delivery position, etc. Well, this side of util' business is at a complete standstill al present because no factory can give us any information about delivery, and 1 would be glad if you would explain to ■ , as well as to various friends you meet, that quite a number of their letters where this sort oi query is included, will have to remain unanswered for the time being, because we cannot get the information which is wanted. "Then another trouble, and it particularly applies to New Zealand, is the many orders we have received from customers, asking us to place such lines as crockery., glassware and cutlery, all of which arc very nearly impossible for the makers of this class ol ■ roods are verv badly hit by the fuel crisis. This is unite understandable. as you will appreciate most of these manufacturers’ whole time is at present being ■riven to getting fuel by some means or another, and discussions as to (lie placement of'new orders (for thev are already overloaded with orders’) have to take secondary place. "AA'e are sure our good and valued friends will appreciate the difficulties as impressed herein, and know that the very best of our endeavours are expended in their interests."