POSSIBLE END TO CLOTHES RATIONING

Chronicle (Levin), 25 February 1947, Page 5

POSSIBLE END TO CLOTHES RATIONING

9 —Press Asscciation

Minister Says Position Being Investigated

By TeVe&rtizih-

ROTORUA, Feb. 24. "I know from a close studv of Ihe remits to your eonference that you annot in favour of the maintenance !>;. tho Government of rationing and re strietions on supplios witliin the country," said the AI iriister of Indus trics and Commerce, ITon. I). G. ttulli van, when officially opening the 26rh annual eonference of the New Zealann iRetailers' Association in Rotorua tln afternoon. "It is, however, impos sible f'of me at tliis moment to commii myself b.y Saying that these restrictiom will be lifted. "I want to mahe it perfectlv plaiu that it is the desire of the Government and myself to see rationing ended a.soon as possiblc. However, 1 think vo. will realise that no good will eonn eitlier to you or the people of Xew Zeu land should restrictions be lifted befor the time is ripe. Such a step woub: inevitably mean that the wealthie. members among you would buv up bulk supplies and thus leave smaller retai! ers, and indirectly a seetion of tlu comniunity, in a questionable position I arn sure that you do not want such u situation to arise. ' ' Mr. Sullivan said that he hoped tlu eonference would make a eareful stud;. of the rationing situation and that it deliberationS would be forwarded • him. Although he eould not promisi that such advice would be acted upon it would receive serious consideratioi from his departm.ent. | "In the case of clothing and footwear, however, it will be a matter for serious consideration during the next mohth or two whether the time has or has not arrived when clothing rationing could well be abolished," added the Miiiister. "The prospective supplies o; textiles are by no means as good as we had hoped last year and, in fact, deliv eries of cotto-ns in particular toward. the end of this year, are likely to bi seriously reduced. Rayon and woollen piece goods are not likely to be ir. bet'ter sufcly this year. However, ther are rfeasonable expections that, on th whole, clothing supplies will slowly iin groVe and as the need for clothin ratiohing has become less apparent ove a wide range of articles during the las. few months, I have instructed that : close exarnination be made of the neces sity or otherwise of cohtinuing clotn ing ratiohing. I "I notiee, however, "continued tlu Minister, "your remits betray a fni degree of restiveness com-eniiug I !i _ operations of price coutrol. From staif • ments which I have made from time lo time you are aware the Government I price control and stabilisation policy j remains in the l'orefront of its economic i programme for the immediate future. 1 j personally see no hope of stabilisat ioo or price control being abolished for soine time yet. 1 The position regarding sup])lies o, raw materials for the manufacturing oi goods which your members sell, arui , also the importation of finished pro | ducts, is still very obscure. Advices trhand in the last week or two which wil. be subject to a press announcement by me in a few days' time, are to the ef'feci that all sponsorsliips of eotton good.and all country-by-eountry quotas hav been abolished by the United Kingdoni Government. How we will fare under i the op'en marlcet system is complete!/ problematical at this stage and presem indications are that there may l>e sul>stantial reduc'.tions in availablc imports, even as mueh as 40 per cent, by tiie en i n-f tliA VPOI* J }