NO GUMBOOTS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3299, 11 August 1943, Page 5

NO GUMBOOTS

DRAIN CLEANING PROBLEM reply from minister CONCERN IN THAMES VALLEY Replying to the Thames Valley Drainage Board’s recent request for thigh gumhoots to be made available for the clearing and maintenance of drains, the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. W. Parry) forwarded a copy of a letter which he had received from the Minister of Supply V as a result of his representations to .him on the subject. The letter submitted to the board) at its monthly meeting held on Thursday, read as follows: —■ No Supply Available f . “The shortage is, of course, entirely due to war condtions, resulting in the prohibition of export rubber footwear by all manufacturing countries. The last shipment, a small one, came to hand the middle of last year and this has been completely allocated. I know of no supply from which the needs of the board could be met. “An application to U.S.A, for a shipment under Lend Lease is now in Washington for consideration. No Immediate Solution “If a favourable decision results and shipping space is available the most essential needs should be met. While fully aware of the need for gumboots for men engaged in such work as you refer to, there is no immediate solution of the problem.” The chairman, Mi’ F. E. Hughes, said the board fully realised that it was no fault of the Government that the acute shortage had arisen, but the board’s requirements were really of national importance and it should have . been notified when the last shipment of gumboots arrived so that a claim could have been made when that supply was being allocated. It was decided to follow up the re-ply-by the Minister by pointing out the importance of the work being undertaken by the board and the necessity of having its requirements- considered when a further supply became available.