FIXED PRICE CLOTHES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 90, 9 January 1918, Page 8

FIXED PRICE CLOTHES

STANDARD MATERIAL AT MODERATE COST.

The Board of Control of Wool Textile Production, a department of'the War Office, having its headquarters in Bradford, lias iu hand important plans l>.v which there will soon lie provision for tho clothing of civilians at a moderate price. The hoard consists of 33 bers, constituted as follows:—Eleven representatives of the official staff, II representatives of employers, and 11 Labour representatives. At a meeting held recently the Director of Wool Textile Production, Mr. Charles Svlces, submitted his scheme for tho provision of standard cloth for civilian wear.

Mr. Sykes, who has conferred with the representatives of manufacturers and wholesale clothiers, reported that there was a general agreement that circumstances demand the placing of a standard cloth, or cloths, on the .market as soon as possible. It was felt that the problem was one. of grave complexity, and it was desirable to begin on the simplest and' most definite scheme, and to amplify it as occasion arises. It was, therefore, thought that at first one type of cloth; should be made available at a fixed price. Only the broad details governing the manufacture of the doth will be laid down, and it will be possible to introduce a reasonably large variety of patterns so as to avoid an undesirable uniformity.

For the moment it was not possible to see how this material could be produced at a fixed price if "shoddy" wore allowed to onter into its composition. "I therefore put forward a proposal," said the Director, "to use certain stocks of wool, off sorts, etc., i.ot otherwise required, blended with noils, aud thus to produce what will, I think, be regarded as a very good quality ol cloth."

This c]oth, it is thought, can be produced at about 6s. per yard on a conversion cost basis, and orders vill be arranged by the department with the. manufacturer. The clothier will make suits, supply the .necessary linings and trimmings, and -soil them at a fixed price to the retailer, who will be able to part with them at a fixed price to the public. The system of :i fixed price, for all sizes of garment, will greatly simplify the administration of the scheme in its initial stages. The price of a man's suit produced from the standard cloth will bo approximately 50s. The question of clothing for boys is being considered, and patterns sue being prepared of cloth, or cloths, suitable for this purpose; and it is thought that a cloth at quite a reasonable figure can be produced. It is hoped to arrange, approximately, the following prices of various grades of boys' clothing;— Young boys, 225. (3d.; older boys, 80s.; youths, 40s. The wide advertisement of the fixed retail price will, it is thought, bo adequate to prevent any infringement of tho regulations as to the fixed selling price.