BATTLE DRESS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 85, 12 April 1940, Page 6

BATTLE DRESS

Big T a sk For Clothing Factories PRODUCTION SCHEDULE MANY FACTORIES ENGAGED [ Per Press Acsociation. ] WELLINGTON, Apr.l IL The task immediately ahead of Ihe clothing factories of New Zealand in the provision of uniforms for lhe armed forces was outlined to the National Recruiting Council to-day by the Minister of Supply', the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. He said the production capacity of the Dominion was now lined up for what was probably the biggest production schedule ever attempted in New Zealand. The peak of production was approaching in the manufacture of battle dress. Fifteen factories were being trained in the intricate work of cutting and assembling this uniform, and immediate production was scheduled to produce 20,000 suits. Next week there would be 23 factories engaged in the production of khaki greatcoats, and it was calculated that, within three month.. 23,000 would have been manufactured. In the same period more than 30,000 field service caps, 15,000 suits of khaki denims and 12,000 khaki drill uniforms would have been manufactured. So far as the air department was concerned the plan would bring into operation 10 factories which, in a period of 11 weeks, would produce 16,000 suits of Air Force blue uniforms. In the same period eight factories would turn out 8000 heavy bluegrey greatcoats for airmen. The cloth from which these uni-1 forms and greatcoats were being produced was being made in New Zealand.