WOOLLEN GOODS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26637, 6 December 1947, Page 8

WOOLLEN GOODS

REASON FOR SHORTAGE INADEQUATE LABOUR P.A. WELLINGTON, Dec. 5. The present deficiency of labour in woollen mills is about 30 per cent, of the number of workers who could be employed if all the machines were working, the Aid to Britain National Council has advised Federated Farmers. The organisation recently received a request for an inquiry into the shortage of blankets for farm workers and whether priority could be obtained. The council, replied that because of the long-standing and acute shortage of mill workers the output was much below the demand. Vacancies totalled 842 workers, mostly women. Although the Government had released on priority considerable numbers of service blankets, these had been exhausted, and because of the considerable deficiency in supply, it was not thought that the system of priorities would work satisfactorily. The secretary of Industries and Commerce, Mr G. W. Clinkard, advised Federated Farmers that lack of staff in the mills was the main cause ol the knitting wool shortage. With the British export drive, it was hoped that increased quantities of knitting wool would come to New Zealand next year.

The labour shortage also effected the supply of woollen working clothes, but the department was doing everything possible to relieve the shortage.