Frantic Scramble to Beat Clothes Rationing

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 109, 11 May 1942, Page 4

Frantic Scramble to Beat Clothes Rationing

SYDNEY’S WOMEN MOB BIG STORES

Received Sunday, 0.80 p.m. SYDNEY, May 10.

In a frantic struggle to beat the clothes rationing men, women and glrla mobbed Sydney’s big stores yesterday queueing up long before the shops opened and disorganising traffic as they swarmed from store to store, buying so heavily that a number of shopkeepers were obliged to close their doors some time before the normal closing time. The exhausted assistants in a state of despair found that the customers were not prepared to haggle over price or quality. Anything was readily accepted that came near the requirements and buying was not even con. fined to essentials. Counters displaying art Jewellery, handbags and feather trimmings were besieged by shoppers six or eight deep. The banks were packed with women with shopping cases and baskets eager to withdraw money. Several stores practically sold out woollen dress lengths and were compelled to display mostly linen and silk materials.

Some business people were of opinion that if the demand next week eorffes anywhere near yesterday’s rush buying they will have to close for varying periods owing to having exhausted their sale quota.