STOCKING LADDERS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30173, 3 July 1963, Page 16

STOCKING LADDERS

Criticism Of Yarn (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 2. A demand for an inquiry into the quality of the nylon yarn being used for the manufacture of women's stockings in New Zealand was made by Mr R. Macdonald < Opposition, Poneonby) during the Address-in-Reply debate in Parliament today Mr Macdonald wondered why the Government had agreed to the establishment of two nylon factories in New Zealand after it had ended a contract With an English firm for the erection of a cotton mill. He wondered wh®t effect this would have on the agitation from the women of New Zealand for better nylon stockings. “The men pay and women weep about these stockings. The men are the ones who are paying and the women have to buy the stockings out of their allowances. Some are buying two and three pairs a week." said Mr Macdonald. “And they are not the cheaper ones either. You can get stockings from the chain stores at 5s M a pair but these are up to 16s 6d a pair. “Miss Howard might be able to produce a pair with a ladder from the toe up to the thigh. I hope the Minister will go forward with an inquiry into the sort of nylon that we are importing into this country to make stockings.” said Mr Macdonald.

Replying to Mr Macdonald’s criticism later in the debate, the Minister of Customs, (Mr Shelton) said he would like to have taken the member for Ponsonby with him on a tour of a Gisborne nylon hosiery knitting mill.

He said the inspections carried out would ensure that there was no faulty work turned out.

“Women insist on finer and finer stockings and the risk of deterioration and shorter wear becomes greater," said Mr Shelton. He said the Government might be responsible for a decrease in the price of stockings. "The Hon. member for Sydenham (Miss M. B. Howard) will be pleased with it,” he said.