TORCH BATTERIES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 201, 23 May 1944, Page 6

TORCH BATTERIES

Imported Supplies Expected

In explaining the position in legat'd to supplies of torch batteries for civilian use, an official of the' Ministry of Supply stated yesterday that a consignment from overseas was expected in the next few weeks which would effect a considerable improvement. For the present, distributors were being asked to give preference of supply to most urgent needs, such, as hospitals, milkmen and others whose work is often carried on at night, and to the country districts in preference to cities. . A major reason for the inability of New Zealand manufacturers to cope with the civilian demand was the greatly increased demands of the New Zealand nnd Allied services, which absorbed a large proportion of the batteries produced. The factories, in common'with other industrial concerns, had also had manpower difficulties, and though it was hoped that there would shortly be an improvement in this regard, other factories had equal or more urgent demands on the manpower available. New Zealand had placed large orders for torch batteries in both the United States and Canada, and the Canadian supplies were believed to be on the way. These would make the quantity of batteries available to the public as plentiful as last winter, perhaps slightly more. As, however, both the United States and Canada had cut down their own civilian quota to 50 per ceut. of the pre-war supply, it was an understood condition of supply that New Zealand would do likewise. A similar condition applied to the supply of materials for the manufacture of batteries in New Zealand, though.it was stated yesterday that local factories were in a reasonably good position, in this respect. Referring to complaints that it was possible in many shops to buy torches complete with batteries, but not separate batteries, it was stated that fairly big stocks of batteries were landed last year and sold to the trade. A certain proportion of them would inevitably be sold as part of complete torches, otherwise it would be impossible to sell torches at all. but the officer considered that stocks of separate batteries should also be avail, able.

Bicycle batteries were controlled through the cycle trade and preference given to workers who travel to and from work at night.