MEETING OF PAN PACIFIC SOCIETY

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 March 1947, Page 10

MEETING OF PAN PACIFIC SOCIETY

The Greymouth Pan-Pacific Society held its first meeting of the year on Thursday last. There was an excellent attendance of members. The president expressed regret at the absence through illness, of the secretary, Mrs Blair, and thanked Miss Julius for acting on her behalf. Mrs Evans, for the National Council of Women, spoke of the proposed visit to Greymouth of Miss Joan Rattray, who was one of the New Zealand reprensentative to the International Women’s Assembly held recently in New York. Miss Julius reported on the meeting called by the Mayor in connection with the war memorial and the president was appointed delegate to attend the next meeting. At the conclusion of the business meeting Mr M. J. Daly gave a comprehensive address on the crisis in Europe. Miss Murphy, on behalf of members, thanked the speaker.

Australian Visitor’s Views On Dominion Prices And Shortages

After . visiting shops, in Auckland and Wellington during -a holiday in New Zealand, a Melbourne journalist, Miss Grace Hunter, had some interesting comparisons to make between the wares sold here and in Australia. Miss Hunter said yesterday that stockings and shoes were coupon-free in Australia and, for this reason, were difficult to obtain. No locally-manu-factured nylon stockings had yet appeared in Australian shops, but sheer rayon stockings, made locally at prices ranging from 7s 6d to 10s 6d a pair, were much sought after.

All woven materials were couponfree in Australia, Miss Hunter added. This meant that knitted twin sets, celanese lingerie, and woollen jersey materials, which made delightful frocks, suits, evening dresses and house coats, all came into the unrationed list. Because of this such articles of clothing were a popular line with women shoppers whose coupons were getting scarce. Miss Hunter found, from her observation of New Zealand shops, that materials were cheaper here and that there was a bigger variety of cotton goods on sale. She also found that there were more imported English gloves.on sale in New Zealand than in Australia. With a very different system of food

JI rationing in Australia than obtained I ' in New Zealand Miss Hunter found it i difficult' to make accurate comparisons. Australia, however, appeared to be much better supplied with clear , honey and dried fruits than New Zea- . land. ’•> The restoration of food deliveries in Melbourne was being gradually effected, said Miss Hunter. In the suburb in which she lived meat was delivered on several days of the week as well as groceries, bread and milk. ' This restoration of a pre-war service to housewives was due largely to the efforts of the local Housewives’ As-

sociation and other organised bodies of women, helped by a press campaign.