WHY SHIRTS ARE SCARCE

Chronicle (Levin), 13 November 1946, Page 5

WHY SHIRTS ARE SCARCE

— Press Association

Bv Telearavh-

WELLINGTON, Nov. 12. Manufacturers were being forced to give up the production of shirts because ihe Price Tribunal policy preveuted theni from competing adequately for labour, said Mr. J. Abel, presi dent of the New Zealand Bliirt and Pyjama Manufacturers' Federation-, to night. Ylr. Abel said tlie number oi' Ihe popular neglige style of shirts with separate eollar being produced in Wel- . lington, was jnliintesinial comjiared with the capacity of tlie plant and materials available. These shirts were in urgent demand but while the Price Tribunal eontinued its present policy, the shortage could only grow more acute. He spoke in repl}' to Ihe statement oi Mr. P. G. Connolly, Labour eandidate for Dunedin Central, who declared privalc enterprise had fallen down on ihe job and that the time was ripe for the Government to enter Ihe shirt-niaking business. Mr. Abel said Mr. Connolly had apparently seen (it to overlook the faet that private enterprise in the shirt trade had not faile.il the Government throughout the vvhole of the war period, malcing not onl}' all of the shirts requested for all branches of the New Zealand Services but in addition making them for Allieil forces. Private enterprise in the shirt trade would still be delivering the goods were it not for the ujiecortojnic prices allowed* by tlie1'rice Tribunal — such prices as would not allpw the sliirt trade to compete for female labour with ntan's luxury au4 poti-essential iudustries. "The shipt trade hos brains, machinery and matepial and if Mr. Connolly9 would exert soipe of his energies in investigating with tlie Price Tribunal as to vvhy manufacturers had given up the production of shirts, lie need not utge the Government to encroach still further ou private enterprise," Mr. Abel e'opeluded.