STOCKING COUPON XlO4

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24712, 1 November 1945, Page 2

STOCKING COUPON XlO4

. CURRENCY EXTENDED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 31. The currency of stocking coupon XlO4 has been extended indefinitely'. This was announced in the House of Representatives to-day by the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) in reply to a question by Miss M. B. Howard (Government, Christchurch East). Mr Sullivan said the currency of stocking coupon XlO4 had already been extended for one month, while the new coupon, X2Ol, would be available from November 1. However, through importations of fully fashioned hosiery not arriving in the expected quantities, a considerable number of women had still not been able to redeem coupon XlO4. The currency of these coupons was therefore being extended until further notice. Both coupons, XlO4 and X2Ol, would therefore be available from November 1. Replying to the second part of Miss Howard's question, which asked him to take up with the manufacturers the making of lisle stockings that were unwearable, Mr Sullivan said one of the three factories in the Dominion making lisle stockings was suffering an acute shortage of "linkers," whose work was 1 essential for the production of a smooth or "linked" seam at the toe. The result was that this company had to reI sort to overlooking at this seam. Until more girls became available for training as linkers, the'choice was between no lisle stockings from one of the factories, or stockings with this seam across the top of the toes. Miss Howard said that on her desk this morning were eight or nine letters from women, mostly in the North Island, all stating that they had purchased, a pair of these stockings, which were unwearable. She said it would be better to withdraw these stockings from the market and stop production entirely until sufficient linkers were available. Good material was beinc; wasted, and the only ones who were benefiting were the manufacturers concerned. "*