SHODDY MATERIAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 64, 16 March 1944, Page 3

SHODDY MATERIAL

FOR WOMEN

WOMAN M.P. IRATE "RUINED FROCK" DIVERSION (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The tragedy of her best frock, which had shrunk drastically on being washed for the first time at the week-end, was quoted by Miss Howard (Govt., Christchurch East), in support of a plea to the Minister of Supply, Mr. Sullivan, in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon that he should ensure the protection of the public from the purchase of fhoddy clothing. She was speaking in the Address-in-Reply debate on the theme that standards should go side by side with rationing. The Minister, she said, had done a wonderful job with standards, but he should go further and sec that a registered standard mark was used extensively for clothing.

Miss Howard informed the House that the dress she Ava.s wearing was the only one left that was comfortable, and she waved her best frock at members to drive home her point. "I paid 11 guineas for this. It's the most expensive frock I've ever had," she remarked. "I washed it at the week-end and it shrank four inches in length and six inches in girth, and it's no earthly use to me now." Members roared with laughter at Miss Howard's revelation, and there was also a titter of amusement from the ladies' gallery. Miss Howard retorted that it was nothing to laugh at.

"There is a high-priced article which 1 had to do without something else to purchase, because I wanted to look nice when I came here,'' she added. "My frock is only good to give away now."

There were more intimate matters which she might take up with the Minister, went on Miss Howard, but in response to a call, "Come on" from members, she commented, "If you can take it I can." Underclothing was in the same position. Bloomers—and everyone knew women wore them—were classed in pre-war days as "W" size for "women's," but now if they were washed they shrank and were only fit for a child. The public should be protected from that sort of thing, she said, amid "Hear, hears" from all sides of the House. The standard mark on all goods was the only way the public could be protected.