RUSH TO BUY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 126, 30 May 1942, Page 3

RUSH TO BUY

IN WHANGAREI SHOPS

UNAWARE OF POSITION

( 0.C.) WHANGARE-I, this day. Northland yesterday had an ample opportunity to react to clothing rationing in the same manner as Australians with panic buying, but shopkeepers reported that although there had been a very heavy demand by people taking the opportunity to obtain necessities before the applicafi on u° f . l l} e cou P° n system, purchasing had been by no means paniekv. I p to this mcrning official notification from the Government of the ration regulations was still awaited oy tradespeople, who received their nrst intimation from newspaper reports giving the Ministerial announcement. _ Until the publication r>t the evening newspapers they were unaware of how many coupons wore " required fcr various articles. , '-acking official advice as to proceoure, the shops carried on normally yesterday. By the evening, when the late shopping night, was observed, some large establishments found it necessary to close their doors at intervals to control the volume of c . us i fn l° rs :' . u ' ith which depleted s.ans had difficulties in coping Many tradespeople frankly disbelieved the rumours that rationing nan been introduced, having seen no evidence in their own turnovers of any desire on the part of the public to hoard clothing or footwear or to buy unduly in advance. Last night customers obviously only acquired what was needed for immediate requirements. Although buying was hurried, it was, nevertheless, critical and discriminating, and in many cases prospective purchasers refrained from buying unless completely suited. No cases of mass accumulation of unwanted articles such as happened in Sydney were reported. v

To-da.v a number of stores con tinned to sell without coupons.