PAPER PATTERNS

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 21, 25 July 1945, Page 4

PAPER PATTERNS

To ease the demand for ready-made garments, the New Zealand Retailers' Federation had asked that licences be made available for the importation of paper patterns, said the president, Mr G. M. Stratmore, in referring to statements made by the Minister of Supply Mr. Sullivan, concerning suit shortages' Every garment made at home Mr' Stratmore continued, was one less required to be made by a factory, and it was considered that any encouragement given to home dressmakers must be of help in the present acute period which was admitted by Mr. Sullivan and stressed by him. The answer to the request for licences,' however was typical of the type of statement made Mr. Nash had said that licences for half the value of imports from Empire sources in 1938 were available He made no reference to the patterns nreviously obtained from U.S.A., a total of over 180,000. He also referred to the locally-made patterns, but 'did not point out that they were not acceptable to many home dressmakers, who did not have the necessary skill to use them if they were otherwise satisfied with them. "This, however, is all by the way," said Mr. Stratmore "The amount of sterling required is particu larly small, and one would think that anything to help the present acute shortage of woman-power would be encouraged, but so enthusiastic ■is thp Governriient to save every penny of exchange that the consumer's difficul ties are of no importance. Money was spent with abandon to encourage homo gardeners to grow food when it w« short. Why not a little encouragement for home dressmakers? Is the country so bankrupt?" "'