MILITARY STORES

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1920, Page 1

MILITARY STORES

A POPULAR SALE,

CHRISTCHURCH, Defc. 3

The sale of military stores at the King Edward Barracks opened yesterday, and though good business was anticipated nobody thought for a moment that the sale would prove so popular as it did. The doors did not open' until 1 p.m., but two hours before that timo there was a very large crowd waiting at the main entrance from Montreal street. 'Policemen and others were requisitioned to keep the crowd in order, and only forty or fifty were allowed into the Barracks at one time, but the sales were extraordinarily brishj and there was always a crowd of several hundred waiting for admission. Quite a number of anxious buyers went along to the Barracks, shortly after 9 o’clock but, naturally, they were not admitted. Five permanent sergeant-majors had charge of the various sales departments, and their assistants numbered about thirty. A number of early-comers were quite incensed because some of the lines they had come to buy had been “cleaned up” by postal orders, but still the fact that postal orders would be received had* been advertised some weeks back, to good effect. In fact, some 2,442 orders had been received by post, securing somewhere about £BOOO in the way of goods ordered and sold. Somewhere about 800 customers were served at the sale yesterday afternoon, Major Molls, D. 5.0., N.Z.S.C., is in complete charge of the sale. The usual gun park at the Barracks is being utilsed as a bulk-store, and each morning during the time the sale is on, supplies will be forthcoming from that store.

White Turkish towels were off the market by the time the sale started, but other towels at 6s. per pair, blankets at 10s 6d each, boots, at extremely cheap rates, cardigan jackets, singlets and other underwear were all eagerly sought after, as were workmen’s heavy khaki shirts at • 10s 9d each.

Stock-taking and cash balancing will be carried our each evening before the staff leaves, and that in itself is no little task.. The salesmen and their assistants will undoubtedly have every second of tlieir time fully occupied during the sale.

a Hush in Wellington. WELLINGTON, December 1. There was a great rush this afternoon at the opening of tlie sale of surplus military stores. Though the sale did not conynence till one o’clock there was a queue at the Barracks at 9 a.m. and when the doors were opened there was a frantic rush of would-be buyers, who were nearly all women. Guncarriages with ropes stretched between them had been arranged to guide the buyers towards the sale counters, but in spite of police and military guards, the women broke through and the doors had to be temporarily closed. A large staff was in attendance.