STOCKING ISSUE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24271, 12 May 1942, Page 2

STOCKING ISSUE

LINES NOT RATIONED mistakes in taranaki As some doubt seems to have arisen as to the effects of the recent rationing of women's stockings, the secretary of the Auckland Provincial Drapers and Allied Retailers' Association, Mr. R. M. Barker, explained yesterday that the restrictions did not extend to cashmere and gymnasium hose or any stockings containing wool. Silk, artificial silk and lisle hose, or any mixture of the three, are the only lines rationed at present. Approximately 30 per cent of the total sales of women's stockings were in the unrationed lines, stated a representative of a large city retail drapery firm yesterday. He said the woollen varieties were mostly worn by women in country districts and for work in the home, because they were warmer and more serviceable. Schoolgirls are heavy users of gymnasium hose. It was stated that woollen stockings are more popular now that they are obtainable in lighter shades. At the time rationing was introduced there was not such a serious shortage of wool, but the position is becoming worse, and it is expected that rationing will be introduced in the near future on. lines at present not rationed. A message frpm New Plymouth states that some retailers there have been selling mixtures of wool and silk only in exchange for coupons. It is expected that women who had sur. rendered coupons for silk and wool hose will be able to redeem their coupons on production of the stockings bought* SUPPLIES TOR NURSES COMPLAINT OF HARDSHIP (OX.) - WHANGABEI. Monday The impossibility of nurses managing with one pair of stockings each three months in their professional work was emphasised by Mr. L. Reynolds at a meeting of the Whangarei Hospital Board to-day. The board had agreed to a suggestion by the matron to order stockings in bulk, but none had been received at the time rationing was applied. It was decided that the attention of the Minister of Health be drawn to the serious difficulties and inconvenience to which nurses had been subjected by the rationing of stockings, and that the executive of the Hospital Boards' Association be asked to approach the auth- * orities with a view td easing the regulation as far ?s nurses are concerned. CAR STRIKES BRIDGE THREE MEN INJURED (0.C.) TE AROHA, Monday Three men were injured when a light car crashed into the side of a oneway bridge about a mile and a-half from Waihou township. Mr. John Arnet, of Springdale, driver of the car, received a cut on the head, bruises and shock; Mr. W. B. Perry, senior, of Waitoa, head and shoulder injuries; and Mr. E. Cooper, stationmaster at Waitoa, cut on the head and bruises. The concrete bntt of the bridge was, smashed and the iron railings carried away, while the car suffered extensive damage. The injured men were taken to Te Aroha for medical treatment. Mr. Arnet and Mr. Perry subsequently were admitted to hospital. TRAINING FOR NAVY SCHEME B CANDIDATES (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Monday The Minister of Defence, the Hon. P. Jones, has received a highly complimentary report on the 46 New Zealand Scheme B candidates who commenced training in August and September, 1941. # "This class fully maintained, if not surpassed, the high standard set by its predecessors," states the report. ' 'The men have proved themselves keen and intelligent, and put the same enthusiasm into their work as into their They have, in addition, put a Jot of extra work in in connection with various warship weeks. The following are the average marks in examinations: —Seamanship. 96 per centj gunnery, 90.5 per cent." SUCCESSFUL TRIAL HAMILTON AIR-RAID ALARM (0.C.) HAMILTON, Monday An air-raid alarm was sounded in Hamilton at 2.15 p.m. to-day. No previous warning of any kind had been * given, and the town's E.P.S. organisation was thoroughly tested. Shops and. offices were immediately evacuated and closed, and all pedestrians were hurried to the trenches. The streets wero cleared in five minutes and all vehicular traffic was stopped. There was no mistaking the signals, which were loud and distinct. A case in progress at the "Supreme Court was held up during the period of the test. Two aeroplanes flew over the town during the trial, which lasted three-quarters of an hour. The chief warden, Mr. H. D. Caro, described the test as a splendid one. He paid a tribute to the E.P.S. workers and others who. had contributed to make it a success. CONSCIENCE CASE UNUSUAL COURSE TAKEN (0.C.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday An opportunity for a conscientious objector to military service to discuss his attitude with the Army authorities was given by Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., when William Henry Murphy, of Waitara, appeared today charged with failing to report for military duty] 1 Sergeant A. C. Fookes, who represented the Army, said the military authorities welcomed the opportunity of interviewing conscientious objectors and made every endeavour to see them. "As a result of some of them coming to us they have changed their attitude and taken up work in the medical corps and proved quite good fellows," added Sergeant Fookes. "They have found they could reconcile work in that corps with their conscience. If they would do that they might avoid having to come here and we would much rather they did that. They become of more use to their country than they would be in a defaulters' camp." "You have got this thing tail first, you and your kind," said the magistrate to Murphy. "You know only on* side of the matter. Are you prepared to talk the matter over with the Army and hear the other side?" Murphy undertook to do as suggested by thM magistrate, who remanded him fbr a week.

KCRIMINATION When overhauling garments, which had hung undisturbed during the summer months.! a Titirangi resident found a tree vretja hidden in a sleeve. The insect, beinff absent from its usual surroundings, hps selected a rayon sleeve as its teqjtoorary retreat and in doing so had flassed over clothes of wool, silk antl cotton. Rayon is a product of wc approach to home* pulp and the nearest le insect's woodland