DEPENDENT ON THEM

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 253, 23 December 1940, Page 3

DEPENDENT ON THEM

'WOMEN PROTEST AT RATIONING' OF CORSETS Following the recent decision of the British Board of Trade to halve the 'supply of corsets to retailers, a meeting of protest was held at a West End hotel, London, at which it was decided that English women very definitelj r do not regard corsets as a luxury. "Obviously no woman doctor was consulted before the order was issued," said a prominent woamn doctor. A manufacturer said, "by issuing corsets to women in the Services, the Government admits they are essential. Ninety-live per cent of women depend on them." The meeting placed on record, Us opinion that the halving of the supply of corsets Avould cause muddle and unhnppiness, although agreeing that women would co-operate wiht the manufacturers to meet the Gov-, ernment's wishes if it were necessary to restrict production during the war. A Macquarie Street doctor, referred to by the Sydney Sunday Telegraph, regarding this matter, . said that women needed a light foundation garment to support the abdominal muscles. "They do less strenuous exercise than men, and their muscles are usually flabby," he said. "The modern corset is not like the abominations of the last century, which constricted the growth of a woman's body."