H—22a

Y. Woollen Comforts The following table shows cumulative number of woollen goods made and issued :

Cumulative Return of Woollen Goods made and issued, including Year ended 30th September, 1944

Hussifs—Made and issued : Army, 130,817 ; Navy, 7,926 ; Air Force, 29,107. Stocks on hand • Army, 587 ; Navy, 81. Unknitted wool issued to servicemen and servicewomen in lieu of garments : Army, 1141b • Navv 480 lb. ; Air Force, 8 lb. , J '

Note.—During the year stocks of khaki woollens were returned to the Board from Army camp in New Zealand; the net local issues were reduced accordingly. These stocks were later exported and are now shown under the heading " Overseas." • The Board wishes to express its appreciation of the work performed by thousands of women throughout New Zealand in helping to maintain the supply of woollen comforts to our servicemen and servicewomen in all parts of the world. The Board wishes particularly to record tSe outstanding services rendered by the Navy League branches and by Mrs. J. Sutherland Ross (Dunedin), Mrs. L. Wyatt {Christchurch), and Mrs. A. A. Stichbury, Wellington, who, with Mr. R. Darroch, Hon. Secretary, New Zealand Navy League War Council, worked in close association with the Board in supervising the knitting and provision of naval woollen comforts in these respective centres. The Board also wishes to thank Commander Palmer for similar work performed in the Auckland area. Similarly, the Board records its appreciation of the able voluntary services rendered by Mrs. L. M. Isitt (Chairwoman) and Miss Constance Morice (Hon. Secretary), Air Force Relations, and the numerous band of helpers who arranged the knitting of Patriotic Air Force woollens for issue in New Zealand and overseas. The work of knitting khaki woollen comforts for Army personnel was supervised, for the most part, by the Mayoress in each centre, under the control of Provincial Patriotic Councils. The Board expresses its thanks to all who assisted. Mrs. William Deans, of Darfield, in association with the Canterbury Federation of Women's Institutes, continued the work of supervising the collection of sheep-skins and making them into sheep-skin jackets for the North Sea patrol and for airmen overseas.

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— Balaclavas. Gloves (pairs). Mittens (pairs). Pullovers. Scarves. Seaboot Stockings. Socks (pairs). Miscellaneous. Rescue Kits. I 1 Army Air Force Relations Navy League and patriotic issues Overseas (Army, Navy, and Air Force) 25,023 40,718 32,012 225,966 860 5,397 5,905 4,833 20,860 46,420 26,649 146,544 3,142 66,140 20,203 17,384 60,270 54,464 26,514 175,155 8,725 2,569 59,081 9,673 29,129 48,328 1,720 7,285 6,633 13,876 293 Totals 323,719 16,995 240,473 106,869 316,403 11,294 146,211 29,514 293 Stocks on hand— Army Navy Air Force 15,693 1,492 4,634 . 30 137 15 17,653 1,014 7,454 344 791 1,385 21,789 1,936 6,667 615 5 5,831 2,004 43 222 635 5,153 104 Grand totals .. 345,538 1 17,177 266,594 i109,389 346,795 11,914 154,089 35,524 397