ARMY NEEDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 85, 7 October 1940, Page 5

ARMY NEEDS

CLOTHING AND BOOTS

INDUSTRY'S FINE RESPONSE

(By Telegraph—Press Associatiou.)

CHRISTCHURCH, October 6.

"The demand for clothing for our military forces has thrown a very heavy responsibility on the clothing trade and the woollen mills of the country," said the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, in a statement today.

"The responsibility was intensified by the fact that the demand came with remarkable rapidity and grew phenomenally. As the need for training increased numbers of men became apparent the industry rallied to the task splendidly, and I am deeply grateful to all concerned, manufacturers ( and workers, for 4he excellent manner: in which they have met the intensified demand. "Due heed has been given to the requirements of the civilian population, and I am hopeful that our mills and workrooms will be able to release greater quantities of consumer goods for this purpose. Everything must naturally be subordinated to the re- | quirements for the defence forces, and it is well to remember that the clothing and footwear in these forces is subjected to very heavy wear and tear. There will, therefore, be continued heavy demands on industry for replacements to the forces serving overseas. With planned organisation of production, however, this demand.will cause no insurmountable trouble."

The Minister stated that since the outbreak of war and up to September 30 there have been produced, among other things, 116,000 pairs of blankets, 65,000 jerseys, 500,000 yards of tunic cloth, 263,000 yards of greatcoating, 750,000 yards of flannel shirting, 535,000 pairs of socks, 52,750 blouses for battledress, and 53,100 pairs of trousers for battledress. The footwear industry, too, had been mobilised; 40,000 pairs "of boots had been produced for the defence forces. To ensure maximum production, orders had been spread in a similar manner to the order for clothing. "In all work turned out the quality is of the highest," the Minister added, "and our troops overseas and in New Zealand are clothed and shod in a manner very favourably comparable with anything produced elsewhere."