DEFENCE UNIFORMS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 114, 12 April 1940, Page 6

DEFENCE UNIFORMS.

I-lUGF, OUTPUT PLANNED. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 11. The task immediately ahead of: the clothing factories of New Zealand in tlie provision of uniforms for the armed forces was outlined to the National Recruiting Council to-day hv the Minister of Supply (Hon. D. G. Sullivan). He said the production capacity of the Dominion was now lined up for what was probably the biggest production schedule ever attempted in New Zealand. The peak of production was approaching in the manufacture of battle dress. Fifteen factories were being trained in the intricate . work of cutting and assembling this uniform, and immediate production was scheduled to produce 25,000 suits. Next week there would he 23 factories engaged in the production of khaki greatcoats and it was calculated that within three months 23,000 would have been manufactured. In the same period more than 30.000 field service caps. L 5 000 suits of khaki donuus and 12.000 khaki drill uniforms would have been manufactured. So far as the Air Department was concerned the plan would bring into operation 10 factories which in a period of 11 weeks would p ,- odnee 16.000 suits of Air Force blue uniforms. Tu the same neriod eight factories would turn out--8000 heavy blue-grey greatcoats for airmen. Tim cloth from which these uniforms and greatcoats was being produced was bring made in New Zealand.