DRAPERY SHOP INCIDENT.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXIII, 8 December 1920, Page 2

DRAPERY SHOP INCIDENT.

A “FAIRY” TABE. Our readers (says the “New Zealand Draper”) will recall the widespread publication in every newspaper in the country of a story that a high legal luminary, speaking before the full Bench of Judges in the Appeal Court in Wellington, told a story to the effect “that a lady bad’ gone into a shop, asked the price of a costume, and was told it was £36. She said it was monstrous, that she could get a similar costume at a far less price elsewhere. A

senior employee came, along and offered the costume at £l7. The lady threatened to tell the Board of Trade, witk the result that she got the costume for £9. . . . This remarkable statement appeared in the Wellington pape/s 03 September 30, and was the subject of universal comment in the trade and among the public, who went about x«posting the story as if it were already authenticated and beyond doubt. The , story was set up as a special paragraph j by at least one journal. The Marne d»y 1 that this story appeared in print the organising secretary of the New Zealand Federation of Drapers and Clothiers asked for the name of tfc« shop where this unusual incident took place. Jt was not known in what establishment the alleged drapery shop incident had happened! Could the inquiry we were anxious to set on foot among ourselves be narrowed down to the name of the town where it was supposed to have happenedf It wa/~ not known for certain in what tows the purchase took place, but it was thought to be in Dunedin. The whole story had been casually heard from a male friend, but an endeavour would be made to ascertain the name of the vendor by that day week. Os To**day, October sth, the secretary called again, only to find that the information was not forthcoming. On Monday, October 11th, he called a third - time, bat there was nothing farther t» impart, a* the informant had not y** been met with again. A letter *sgnsd by the president and a member of tb* Wellington Advisory Exeecli** , brought the reply that the inform** 1 j is unable to give the name of tat l draper referred to. Further inquiries. J wc are told, dearly show- that tig J whole story was a fabrication. . j