SILK STOCKINGS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 October 1941, Page 2

SILK STOCKINGS

SHORTAGE IN NEW ZEALAND SOME RELIEF TO BE PROVIDED. RELAXATION OF IMPORT RESTRICTIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, October 21. Some relief from the acute shortage of silk stockings will be provided by certain relaxations of import restrictions announced today. According to advice received by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce from the Customs Department, licences may be granted for imports from the United Kingdom • (or) artificial silk for amounts equivalent to 100 per cent of the value of the applicant’s imports from that source in 1938. Allocations of full-length stockings of wool are increased from 50 to 100 per cent of the 1941 licences. The chamber has also been advised that applications for amounts in excess of the above should be referred to the Wellington office with evidence of the availability of supplies. Mr V. C. Mathews, chairman of the importers’ section of the chamber, said today that the relaxations would relieve the shortage to some extent. As for silk and artificial silk, however, there would be difficulties in obtaining supplies of hose from Great Britain because of the difficulties faced by British manufacturers in getting supplies of yarn. Supplies of cotton (lisle) hose also would be dependent on the availability of shipping space between England and America. With wool, he said, the story might be different and the desired supplies might be obtainable. Replying to an urgent question in the House of Representatives on October 7, the Minister of Customs, Mr Nash, gave an assurance that the Government was doing all in its power to overcome the shortage of silk stockings. He said that efforts were being made through the High Commissioner in London, Mr Jordan, to obtain supplies from the United Kingdom.