CAUSE OF MATCH FAMINE

Chronicle (Levin), 3 May 1946, Page 5

CAUSE OF MATCH FAMINE

-Press Association

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, Mav 2. "There is no lack of materials and the position is simplv due to shortage j of staff, " said Mr. 'W. McLav, manag- j ing director of Bry.ant and May, Bell and Co., Lt-d., match manufacturers, in reply to an inqxiiry today as to the reason for the ex-isting shortage of matcli--es. Suggestioxrs that this was due to ! the export of matches from New Zea- j land to Australia, were denied by Mr. [ McLav and also by officials of the Cus- > toms Department and Industries ancU Commer.ce Department. Mr.. McLav ' said that over t-he past six or nine j months, the staffi position had beeome worse though there was at present aj little evidence that it was going to im- | prove. His Arm distributed supplius in , aeeordance with a quota that had been ' worked on for the last four years. If 1 staff were obtainable it should be pos- ' sible to meet the local demand. Under I present conditions the interval between ' supplies going forward w?ts a little j longer. ;