MILITARY SUPPLIES.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2597, 20 October 1915, Page 3

MILITARY SUPPLIES.

AID PROM CIVILIAN EXPERTS

Al BUSINESS DEPARTMENT

Tha Minister of Munitions' and Supplies (the Hon. A. M. Myers) is dovot,ing all his energies at present to an endeavour to establish the purchase of military supplies on a satisfactory business basis. ■ . Mr. Myers is remaining in Welling'ton for the present, being fully occupied i in making arrangements for the large quantities of supplies required by the military authorities.' When it is considered that with the men now.in training and those to be callcd up to the end of the year, the. number exceeds ■15,000, and that a further 30,000 will be called up in 1916, also that each ; soldier requires to be provided with •three issues of various articles, the importance of the activities of the Supplies Department will he readily realised. ■ : The demand for Supplies is a very heavy one, and the resources are being :taxed to the utmost to, fulfil the requirements satisfactorily. Mr. Myers, however, expresses his appreciation of tho patriotic spirit displayed by tho manufacturers, warehousemen, and other trading establishments, and also by their employees in doing everything possible to increase the output to tho desired quantity; and ho hopes that, given the samo assistance in the future, there will bo no serious difficulty In mooting the demands of the military authorities. The activities cf tho Supplies Department have become so onerous and important that the Minister in charge has called in the aid of several experts, having special knowledge of the production' and the value of certain classes of goods which the. _ Government is buying in huge quantities. Mr. Sidney Kirkcaldie, of tho firm of Kirkcal. die and Stains, and Mr. J. L. Morrison, representative for I. and R. Mprley, have associated themselves with the ■ Supplies Department to advise and assist in the obtaining and purchase of soft goods required for military purposes. These two gentlemen, says Mt. Myers, have generously offered' their services, and have ontored wholeheartedly into their new self-imposed .task. At the suggestion •of the Minister they have set out on a tour of Jtho South Island to interview the heads §>f woollen mills and clothing factories able to produce military supplies, f The services of other experts are beJng utilised. The purchase of boots is liinder the control of Mr. W. J. Ward, (lately manager for Messrs. R. Hannah and Co., of Wellington, 'and Mr. Ward is recognised as one of the best authorities iii New Zealand on tho manufacture of boots.

Mr. Myers also acknowledges voluntary help in clerical work from gentlemen in Wellington. One of the leading lawyers in the City is spending a cerI'tain time every day in this work, "and others aro helping him.