WOOLLEN GOODS SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 203, 22 May 1920, Page 8

WOOLLEN GOODS SHORTAGE

Sir,—l lies: (o thank you for thopromiupneo you gave my' letter, and lor the. replies you obtained thereto. The woollen companies deny the statement of goods being exported. Well, this is finite satisfactory. Why did they not admit they were incapable of meeting the present demands for their products? Why is it there are no blankets to be had, especially white? The Wellington Woollen Stills aro said to be turning out JOO pairs weekly, but just two days ago a traveller working Nelson and Blenheim said there was not a pair of blankets in any of the retail shops in thosit towns.

Tho best efforts of the companies' ore not capable of meeting the shortage. AVe want more mills in New Zealand. The question I should have liked the representatives of the two companies mentioned to have answered is: Is there not a great shortage of all output W the woollen companies in New Zealand; aud further, is there any prospect of overcoming the deficiency in production? Go into their warehouses and you will find empty fixtures where formerly there were thousands of pounds worth of goods you could select from. All Ihis has to" he made up again if immediate sales ato to be made in the near future. Wo havo the sorry suectiwle of a travelling 'representative of a larso woollen factory canvassing for trade with a packet of samples contained in his inside breast •pocket, and they represent a few pairs of cotton hosiery aivl men's uudervests of the same mniorinl. and this is the truest indication of tin- serious shortage, despite their best efforts to supply tho people of the Dominion with their goods. The question is a most important one. and should be dealt with at once, and that is by forming a few more factories to overtake the million pounds' worth of New Zealand-made woollens that are short in delivery.—l am, etc., BUSINESS MAN.