CLOTHING FOR EUROPE

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 278, 23 August 1945, Page 5

CLOTHING FOR EUROPE

Over £250,000 Worth Collected WORK STILL GOING FORWARD Over a quarter of a million pounds is the estimated worth of Hie second-hand garments that have been contributed inroiiglmut New Zealand lor shipment to Europe. Chillies are still arriving at tlie depots ami much sorting ami packing lias to he done yet. There are 2785 cases and hales packed .■nut really lor shipment, 'Ji/lt being at Wellington, BSS at Lylleilon and 1700 at Auckland. These are approximate figures’ given yesterday. The i/iianlities throughout. New Zealand to come into lhe packing depots or in the depots -wailing to be parked is not known, but. an idea of the amount may be gained from tlie fuel tlmt it is estimated that ill Wellington there are enough clothes on liand to till another (JIM) cases. The goods tire collected at the three centres mentioned for final sorting and packing. The average weight of tiie contents of Hie eases is 2(Wlb., and the average weight of the contents of n bale is 350 to 4001 b. Over 500,0001 b. of clothing have been packed, and the estimate of £250.000 as its value is based o<i a supposition that the average value of a garment is 10/-, which is below the value experienced workers with second-hand clothing place on them. The quality of the goods is •surprisingly good. Most of the clothing sent in is outer wear, more of it being women’s than men's. Comparatively little underwear has been contriinuted, apparently because New Zealanders wear out their underwear, but discard outer garments while they are still good, but are out of fashion’or slightly shabby. Great quantities of boots and shoes are being handled. In Wellington 43 eases of footwear have been packed, but many more will be tilled. ’Tlie sorfing and packing of footwear is only in its early stages because the boots and shoes have to he fumigated first. The drive for (lie clothing began in the first week of July and another four or six weeks may pass before all that has been given has been packed.