INFANTS’ BOOTS AND CLOTHING SHORTAGE IN N.Z. SERIOUS

Grey River Argus, 3 May 1947, Page 5

INFANTS’ BOOTS AND CLOTHING SHORTAGE IN N.Z. SERIOUS

P.A WELLINGTON, May 2. At the half-yearly meeting in Wellington of the Dominion Council of the Plunket. Society, grave concern at the present shortage of small children’s footwear and the lack of material suitable fox* babies’ clothing was expressed. A statement issued by the Council says: “Although licences to import children’s footweax* may 7 be obtained when availability has been proved, it appears that in many cases undue delay has been experienced in granting licences to importers, with the result that goods are no longerprocurable. Customs Department figures show that the importation of shoes of the sizes from seven to nine has been maintained, while the importation of sizes from nil to six has declined. This is a serious matter, particularly 7 in view of there having been a greatly increased birthrate during the past two years. As indications* are, an army of toddlers will have to go unshod during the coming winter”. The Society 7 intends to place its case before the Footweax* Planning Committee, and to urge that the manufacturers be apprised of the serious situation, and to be asked what contribution they are prepared to make towards relieving the present emergency. Council members reported that mothers-to-be had fainted in antenatal clinics, after hours of tramping streets in a fruitless* search fox* materials fox* babies’ layettes. It was stated that during the past few months the Society had approached the Minister of Industries and Commerce and the New Zealand Woollen Mill Owners’ Association, but that, in spite of strenuous efforts.* to improve a very serious situation, an acute shortage existed of cot blankets, white flannel, and white wool. The Society is sending a deputation to the Minister of Industries and Commerce, requesting him to. make a full investigation of the serious position, and also asking him to find a solution. MAGISTRATE'S COMMENT AUCKLAND. May 2. “I don’t suppose there is anything that hurts ox* causes greater difficulty 7 to the family man more than the high prices of children’s footwear. They 7 are almost staggering to the ordinary 7 wage earner. There is a special duty 7 to see that price orders are obeyed. A shilling here and a shilling there becomes a serious matter”. This observation was made by 7 Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., in the Auckland Police Court to-day, when he fined Jack Leslie Murt £36 for breaches of the Price Control Regulations.