A Bas la Nudite

New Zealand Listener, Volume 17, Issue 421, 18 July 1947, Page 10

A Bas la Nudite

TALK on The Development of the’ Stocking Industry in England suggested to me an expense of technicality in a waste of commercialism, but I found Mr. Ford’s talk from 2YA on a recent Monday morning most entertaining. Beginning with Queen Matilda (wife of William the Conqueror) whose hose, were "finest white cloth of Flemish! weave," Mr. Ford took us rapidly along be to Elizabeth, in whose reign the Reverend Lee invented the first knitting frame, thus staking his claim to be called the father of the British stocking industry. After an admiring glance or two at the Victorian ankle (in the ‘sixties the ‘walking dress" was completed by stockings in startling colour schemes, including circular stripes and checks; and "stockings of red silk (continued on next page) :

(continued from previous page) studded with bitds" is an item from one ‘eollection) Mr. Ford made a safe descent to modern times, and probably felt less embarrassment when dealing with leg coverings destined for a public career. In spite of his intimate connection with the manufacturing side, much of Mr. Ford’s information was perforce second-hand ("I am told that nylons have not that lovely clinging warmth of pure silk") so that he deserves all the more credit for the competence and vigour of his presentation. The following week he promised to give us an insight into the manufacturing side, together with some hints on the care of stockings, and the best way to wash them. Let us hope the ACE. is not meditating action for trespass.