COUPONS VERSUS PRICES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 55, 12 March 1943, Page 4

COUPONS VERSUS PRICES

Sir, —Kindly allow me a little space to tell you of my well meaning hut u'nsuecessful attempt to smarten up my children for the recent: show on the 20th last. Father had promised the four children some new clothes as a reward for helping him milk and various farm jobs—now mostly done by the farmer's wife or children. The large block of extra 'children's coupons issued by the Government looked promising,, so we set off in the car in great, hopes. Being of Scotch descent I told the children that they must only get' essential . and plain clothes—nothing extravagant or flighty. Daughters, aged 12 and 8 wanted a frock and the boys only a shirt and shorts. So we entered a draper's shop and I produced, a £o note asking for two pairs of shorts—serge—to fit boys ; aged 9 and 10. "Yes Mrs Cockie— . shorts —18/ G." "That's the two pairs . of course," D gasped. "Oh no, things ; have gone up—lß/(5 each!!!" "Show me some dungarees, instead please, or anything not. so dear," I said. Working dungarees were only 1 a few shillings cheaper. Khaki shorts unprocurable.—nothing for it but. to cover the boys somehow so I got the regulation navy school pants, which on close inspection proved to be Austerity cut, with narrow seats, not reinforced as of o'd, rough kind of lining and looked like some form of canvas, hard on a young child's skin one would think. But on seeing very bright and brief bathing trunks a shilling dearer, I did not argue any longer, and paid up. i Next came the shirts for the boys. -They were a cheap looking material and shoddy buttons, but I managed to ge.t two for another £1. Daughter aged 12 started to agitate for her long promised 'gym' frock. It ran into two notes, so I only had a few shillings left. Priced some shoes for licr—far too dear —so compromised r on a pair of sand shoes. My second daughter had, a good supply of cou- : pons but the. fiver was gone, so she : had to go on wearing other people's old clothes, as usual. As I wandered on„ sadder and wiser,, one of my neighbours ahead of me, well dressed and fresh looking, with her pet dog on a string. She was one of the wise ones without encumber ances', en route to play tennis. I stepped aside to let her pass,, and almost bumped into the hardware shop window. My eyes lit on a tin of aluminium paint, so I rushed in and bought it, before it was snapped up by some one else. Thinking to myself "lif winter comes'* Ii can at least keep the rust oil the kids. Yours etc., MOTHER FROM THE EMPTY SPACES, (Is it any wonder?)