NEW UNIFORMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 March 1940, Page 5

NEW UNIFORMS

MACHINING IN MASTERTON. LOCAL GIRLS EMPLOYED. Many people may not be aware that Masterton girls are engaged locally in the manufacture of new uniforms for the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. These uniforms, which are based on the British battle dress pattern, will be supplied to members of the Third Echelon and all subsequent detachments. They will be most popular with the soldiers, as there will be no buttons to clean. Messrs Cathie and Sons, Ltd., have installed an up-to-date plant in the Central Arcade all, which has been taken over' by them, and at present 14 girls are engaged in work of this kind, as part of a big order given to New Zealand firms to supply uniforms for the troops. Fourteen power-driven sewing machines have been installed and there is a prospect of many more being added later. The war is brought very much before these girls, whose whole time is at present' devoted to machining khaki trousers on the approved pattern adopted by the British authorities. The handling of power-driven sewing machines is an art only acquired with practice. The machines installed in Masterton are capable of sewing at the rate of 2500 to 3000 stitches a minute, while there are others in use in the cities that reach 4000 stitches a minute, which is pretty fast sewing.

The action of Messrs Cathie and Sons. Ltd., in extending their operations to Masterton and employing local girls in this vital war work is one that commends itself to all. They anticipate that a further number of girls will be required in the near future.