SCHOOL UNIFORM SHORTAGE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29448, 25 February 1961, Page 12

SCHOOL UNIFORM SHORTAGE

Retailers Reply To

Headmaster

"The statement by the headmaster of the Papanui High School that the shortages in school uniforms experienced this year were unexplained, came as a surprise to Christchurch schoolwear stockists." said Mr N. M. West, secretary of the Canterbury and Westland Retailers’ Association yesterday. “One would have thought that sufficient publicity had been given to the subject already. The explanation is no secret and is just as simple as this—orders placed by retailers, in good time, have not been delivered.” said Mr West “Mr Newton’s supposition that the spread of stock over a number of stores results in a lack of Interest on the retailers’ part as to whether supplies are adequate or not is very poor compensation for retailers in their painstaking and frustrating efforts L see that the customers' requirements in school uniforms are met.

"To talk of limiting the number of stockists as the solution, is to close one's eyes completely to the basic problem, which is one of manufacture of so many widely diverse uniforms.

“It should also be remembered that parents have a right to their preferences as to the stores with which thev wish to do business and that It was not the prerogative of public schools to direct parents in these matters," he said.