CHEAPER N.Z.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 5, 14 March 1947, Page 6

CHEAPER N.Z.

VARIETY OF GOODS ON SALE After visiting shops in various centres during a holiday in New Zealand, a Melbourne journalist, Miss Grace Hunter, had some interesting comparisons to make between the wares sold here and in Australia. Miss Hunter said that stockings and shoes were coupon-free in Australia and, for this reason, were difficult to obtain.

No locally-manufactured nylon stockings had yet appeared in Australian shops, but sheer rayon stockings, made locally at prices ranging from 7s 6d to 10s 6d a pair, were much sought after. All woven materials were couponfree in Australia, Miss Hunter added. This meant that knitted twin sets, celanese lingerie, and woollen jersey materials, which made delightful frocks, suits, evening dresses and house coats, all came into the unrationed list. Because of this such articles of clothing were frequently in short supply as they were a popular line with women shoppers whose coupons were getting scarce. Miss Hunter found from her observation of New Zealand shops that materials were cheaper here and that there was a bigger variety of cotton goods on sale. She also found that there were more imported English gloves on sale in New Zealand than in Australia. The restoration of food deliveries in Melbourne was being gradually effected, said Miss Hunter. In the suburb in which she lived meat was delivered on several days of the week as well as groceries, bread and milk. This restoration of a pre-war service to housewives was due largely to the efforts of the local Housewives’ Association and other organised bodies of women, helped by a press campaign.