NO NEED FOR PANIC

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 134, 9 June 1942, Page 2

NO NEED FOR PANIC

COSMETICS NOT SHORT

HOW PUBLIC . CAN HELP Do you want to keep your normal supply of cosmetics throughout the war? Then don't rush to buy up large numbers now! Buy normally, and supplies will last for at least two years. This fact was made clear when a report of panic cosmetic buying in Christchurch was referred to representatives of Auckland stores and manufacturers to-day. All stressed the same fact: "There's absolutely no need for any rush to buy cosmetics. We have enough supplies to last two years. Any tightening of sales on our part has been made to prevent the public themselves creating a shortage. There's no need to worry at all." The Christchurch report made the same statement, and it should surely be enough to prevent further heavy buying on the part of the public. "People who attempt to buy three and four dozen of a certain line of goods must see that by so doing they are preventing a large number of other people from obtaining goods, and also are hastening rationing, when it should not be necessary at all," said the representative of one store.

She added that five or six weeks ago people began to get nervous about possible rationing, and started to buy more heavily. When coupons were brought in this nervousness increased, and, consequently, a ruling was made by the store management that the head of the cosmetic department should use her own discretion concerning sales.

"We now allow a customer to buy only one or two articles in each line, so that stocks may be conserved and spread out over a longer period. It is not because of any shortage," she emphasised. Speaking of the help people could give by returning empty containers, this representative said that if containers which were not of the same "line" as those sold in her store were brought in, they were sent to the City Mission and St. John Ambulance, where they were used for ointment and such needs.

The manager of a large cosmetic manufacturing house said that there were plenty of raw materials for making cosmetics of every kind. No hint of rationing had come from the Government, and he could not see that there would be any need, if people were sensible and bought normally.

With this pertinent advice it definitely appears to be in the public's own hands to prevent the rationing which they don't want!