TALE OF A SHIRT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 94, 14 February 1947, Page 8

TALE OF A SHIRT

CHINESE LAUNDRYMEN OF NEW YORK QUESTION OF FEES ■ • This is the tale of a shirt, states an American newspaper. Pressed by the demands of the Chinese Power Launderers Association, Chinese hand laundrymen of New York are fighting for the status quo on the shirt—the price they charge for doing it. The Chinese who deserted hand methods for the machine want to charge a third more for their services. ' They wash the clothes for the hand laundrymen. This demand for increased prices has taken the starch out of the hand men. The price is too high for wet wash, said a spokesman for the Chinese Benevolent Association.

“What will happen to our customers?” he asked. He’s afraid the higher, prices will “take them to the cleaners.”

The power clan, on the other hand, thinks this is a lot of suds. The overall costs will only average about 21 \ cents a bundle, they say. Meanwhile, the matter has reached high levels. To prevent hot arguments, a meeting to mediate, the matter was called. Dr. H. L. Lu, Chinese Consul General in New York, said he would try to help iron out the problem. The Chinese community has been greatly churned by the affair.

Soiled linen is accumulating in homes and boarding houses whose depend on Chinese laundries. The matter is confusing, but they hope it will all come out in the wash.