WAR ORGANISATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 May 1942, Page 4

WAR ORGANISATION

MORE ABOUT AUSTRALIAN ,PLANS . INDUSTRIAL AND OTHER ADJUSTMENTS. INCREASING CALL ON WOMEN. (By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.00 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. _ One-man working-principals of businesses will be exempted from miliiaiy service if the Department of War Organisation of Industry decides that the businesses concerned are of national importance. Applicants for exemption must satisfy the Man-power Authorities that they have been engaged in full-time service in industry for at least two years prior to the application date. A shortage of carpenters for defence work has been attributed to the engagement of large numbers of men for shatter-proofing the windows of premises in metropolitan areas. In order to relieve the position, the New South Wales Minister of National Emergency Services, Mr Heffron, announced that: “While keeping in mind the absolute necessity of having plate glass protection in large shopping areas, I have decided that there must be a more liberal interpretation of the regulations, particularly in regard to the time factor.” Staffing difficulties are contributing towards increased food costs and are stated to be the main reason for the . recent sharp rise in the prices of meals in Sydney cafes. The standard price for a hot meal is now 3s 6d. A pie, roll, butter and tea—a most popular lunch in the city—this week jumped from lid to Is 3d. Despite the increased prices, however, Sydney restaurants have never done brisker business. Soldiers on leave and panic shoppers are adding to the tide of custom. Everywhere the problem of transferring women to war work is receiving widest publicity. It has been announced that 3,000 Adelaide shop girls between 19 'and 26 years of age will shortly be transferred compulsorily to war industry. The restricted buying order under the new regulations plan is expected to release many thousands of shop assistants throughout Australia for essential war work. CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR STANDARDISATION PLANS. (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. “Preparations are being made for the standardisation of clothing and footwear in Australia,” said a spokesman of the Department of War Organisation of Industry. He added that the Department was now working on measures to determine the most effective allocations of raw materials among groups of garments the manufacture of which could be standardised. Footwear was being investigated to ensure that no plant would be rendered idle by the introduction of standardisation. HECTIC BUYING SYDNEY SHOPS STAY OPEN FOR HOUR. FRANTIC RUSH CONTINUES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) SYDNEY, May 13. The panic buying of clothing continued today throughout Australia. In Sydney most of the stores had sold their quotas within an hour of opening. The three days of practice, it is generally conceded, made the panic buyers amazingly efficient. Some city stores had queues of 200 or more persons outside .the doors when they opened for business; one of the biggest crowds was at a store which was heavily placarded with a sign: “Lend to defend.” Retail executives express disgust at the present system of buying and said that the legitimate purchasers with small needs had been crowded out by the panic shoppers. Most of the stores have announced that they will remain closed on certain days of the week till the coupon system comes into operation. One Sydney firm will close its doors against the general public till the day rationing is introduced. Known clients may make telephone appointments and they will be supplied within the limits of the store’s quota.