New-York tribune., 1918-09-15
England Fixes
Clothing Price
For Civilians
Government Allots Millions Of
Yards for Standard Suits
and Overcoats

In regard to the prices Of standard
the United States Bureau of Domestic
and Foreign Commerce that in January
last the Director of Wool Textile Pro-
duction arranged for the manufacture
OF $3.50, 900 yards of standard materials
to make 100000 suits and overcoats.
All this material has been produced,
and the civilian garments are being put
on the market as fast as the urgent
demand by military authorities for
uniforms will permit. The prices for
these standard civilian suits and over
coats was fixed in January. and there
has been no price advance Clothing
manufacturers agreed to carry the risk
OF any subsequent Increase in the cost
of production.
In addition to providing for the ssits
and overcoats referred to. arrange
ments were made also for the manu-
facture of 100000 yards of worsted
serge, and for suits Of this material
1t has been agreed that the price shall
be advanced from s225 to s2370. In
obtaining this advance clothers and
tailors presented a strong case before
the Director Of Wool Textile Produc-
tion. They based their claim for
price advance upon the higher wages
they must pay operatives in the max
ing-up department. But II is only in
relation TO these worsted serge suits
than an advance In price has been per-
mitted.
Fixed Prices to Remain
1t Is said to be the intention of the
Department of Wool Textile Produc-
tion that SO long as the war continues
the policy of producing standard ma
tcrials at fixed prices shall continue.
There is, however. a scarcity Of cer-
tain classes of material. even for mill
tary purposes, which. of course. have a
prior claim, consequently the char
ecter Of standard clothing must largely
depend on the class Of raw material
available after military requirements
have been satisfied.
"In future this will doubtless alter
produced and may have some influence
on the price charged. At present new
patterns for mems wear are being pro-
duced from the raw material available,
and sooner or later new orders Will be
placed with manufacturers of the Sc
lected patterns.
"The claims of women for standard
material are being considered. 1t IL
we'll to state that the Department OF
Wool Taytj1pa docs intend tn n
dertake the manufacture of standard
dress goods or materials for blouses.
1t is proposed, however to Put on the
market cloths suitable for either cos
tunes or skirts, which will include o
cloth somewhat of the character OF
Donegal tweed.
Making Uniforms for U. s. Troops
fireplace uniforms are now being
made in this country for the large num-
Der of American troops now IN Europe.
and the Leeds factories are busily en-
gagged on the work. The trade in the
Leeds district has undertaken. so far
as the large establl shments are con-
cerned, to devote from rs to so per cent
of their output TO government work
AS standard quits are not included in
delay in turning these out in any con-
siderable number. War requirements
must, however, be filled first, and
civilians here must consequently wear
their clothes longer
THE development of the wholesale
costume trade IN Leeds is growth of
recent years. Thirty years or so ago
this was almost monopoly Of the Ger
mans. and it is one of the few indus
tries which the British succeeded in
taking from them before the war.
About fifteen years ago there were only
cne or two firms in Leeds in this trade;
now there are about twenty four, all
fairly large ones, and numbering
among them more than 1000 machines
The wholesale costume trade is still
developing here, so much so that Leeds
is fast becoming the centre of the
trade, which is also carried on 70
great extent in London, Manchester and
Glasgow