WATCH REPAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 January 1943, Page 2

WATCH REPAIRS

MANY DIFFICULTIES APPARENT. SHORTAGE OF MATERIAL. “We have'so much work to do that we don't’’know which way to turn,” said a Masterton watch-repairer this morning. It appears that this state of affairs is general throughout New Zealand. Although some watchmakers still have fair stocks of repair parts, there is an acute shortage in some places, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to repair certain classes of watches.. The prospect is faced in the not too distant future that the only work that some watchmakers will be able to do will be cleaning. It is all a question of importations. It is stated that no mainsprings have arrived in New Zealand for two years. They are made of very fine steel, which is in short supply. It is almost impossible to obtain watch parts from Switzerland, as the British Legation at Berne has refused to grant certificates of origin. Although the Government, it ?s stated, has increased the import quota for watches, the arrival of anything like adequate supplies is unlikely. Some factories have gone over to war work. Watch glasses and hands • are stated to be at a premium, and mainsprings are unobtainable. Watch oil is also practically off the market. Watchmakers who still have fair supplies of these are fortunate, but unless some relief is forthcoming, which does not at present appear probable, the situation must become progressively worse.