STOCKING RUSH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 174, 25 July 1942, Page 3

STOCKING RUSH

CITY SHOPS BUSY LAST DAY FOR COUPON "Busy as a half-price day." "Eight deep at the counters." These were two of the comments made by saleswomen and representatives of shops regarding the lastminute rush by women to redeem their XI coupon for a pair of stockings. To-day was the last day on which it was redeemable, but yesterday was the busiest day. Another representative made the pertinent comment, "It was a revelation to discover how many women had been able to keep their coupon for three months witnout using it. They must have had enough stockings to keep them going, in spite of the shortage." Brisk business was done at stocking counters in all shops throughout yesterday and this morning. It was evident that a great many women had waited until the very last minute to redeem their coupon, in the hope that they might be lucky enough to get real silk. Numbers of women have been visiting all the shops in the last week with this in mind.

However, they have reluctantly come to the conclusion that "it's true what the advertisers say," that silk hose will be almost impossible to obtain now. And since the coupon expired to-day, most women wanted to use it, even if they could not get silk. The glut which had occurred earlier therefore eased, and women bought the silk-and-rayon and other circular-woven hose which they had been rejecting up to now. Actually, women who have bought them say that these stockings are often quite surprisingly good, particularly in the finer types, and it is probable that all women will become quite used to them soon. According to manufacturers, they will have to in any case. Position Clear Xow The position regarding stocking rationing has been definitely confused during the last few weeks, according to women who have been doing the shops" in search of them. The same type of rayon stocking has been sold in some shops for the XI coupon and in others for the M coupon. According to previous announcements, it was made clear that the M coupons were only for wool, cashmere and gymnasium stocking until July 20. Other types all required surrender of the "XI coupon. Different shops have definitely read the announcements in different ways however. ' Nevertheless, the main consideration during the past few days has been how to use the XI coupon, and since real silk was largely unobtainable, non-fully fashioned hose had to be bought. From now until December 31. the position should be quite clear. Coupon X 7 will be available for one pair of full-length, fully-fashioned hose, while all other types will sell at the rate of one M coupon per pair Women will be able'to buy these without restriction, but as they are likely to be very plentiful, according to shop representatives, there should be no shortage.