WOMEN PLEASED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 125, 29 May 1942, Page 2

WOMEN PLEASED

FAIR RATIONING "TIME IT HAPPENED" "What do you think of the rationing?" This question was on every woman's lips this morning, whether she be at morning tea, luncheon, at the back door dealing with tradesmen, or out visiting. For some time women have been predicting possible rationing, and on the whole there was no surprise at the fact when it happened. "What I like about it," said one weman this morning, "is the fact that it happened so suddenly, without any rumour as to the date. This prevented the panic buying that we heard about in Australia, and could so easily have happened here."

Said another woman: "It comes as a relief to me. I, like many other women, have limited money at my disposal, and a rationing scheme is the fairest way for us all to get a share."

That the scheme was fair was the point of view of all women. They all said that it was very sensible and were willing to co-operate with the Government's decision in every way possible. "There is another ,thing," s?'.d a social worker. "The ration system will train people to buy for quality and durability. It will stop the squandering of money in all sections of the community. Young girls will get an appreciation of good things. They will regard materials and the like from the point of view of their grandmothers, who, in the early days of the country, knew how important it was to have things that lasted well instead of things that were mainly for 'show.' " "I'm glad it's happened," said another woman. "I only wish it had been brought in before. But I am genuinely sorry for those people who had been economising and therefore had got low in stocks. I'm one of them, but that can't be helped. On looking through the coupons I can see I can keep myself warm and well shod, and what more can or should we expect in these days of war." The question of evacuees was also brought up by several women, who pointed out that coming from perhaps warm climates these women had not been able to purchase sufficient warm clothes.

One elderly wit, who spent some time on going through the articles which were not rationed, discovered that academic gowns were hers for the asking. "That settles it; I shall have to start and study for an M.A.," she said.