CHEAPER CLOTHES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25030, 21 October 1944, Page 6

CHEAPER CLOTHES

MEN'S WEAR AFFECTED SUBSIDY PLAN ADOPTED Through a subsidy payable by the Government to manufacturers, a plan has been evolved to reduce the retail prices of certain lines of clothing, such as men's suits, shirts, pyjamas and overalls, to the level ruling at December, 1942, the date of the introduction of the stabilisation policy. The scheme will apply only to lower and mediumgrade materials, higher grades not being affected. it is understood that new wholesale and retail prices will«be fixed by the Price Tribunal, and some reductions from the present levels can be expected. Although lines carrying the new subsidy are available for delivery by some Auckland manufacturers, supplies will not be large, as many firms are still engaged on urgent war contracts. The subsidy is to be paid on the yardage of material used and not on the finished product, the amount being fixed for each line individually. These figures will be fixed by the Price Tribunal, after estimates have been forwarded by manufacturers. The manufacturer is required to forward samples of the materials, and the cost in December. 1912. Where materials are affected which were not on the market at that time, the manufacturer or importer is called on to estimate the cost. On these figures, the Price Tribunal then fixes wholesale and retail prices. It is understood that the payment of the subsidy will involve large sums. Manufacturers and importers will submit claims each month, which will be met on a monthly account from the Treasury. Audit certificates will be necessary to prove claims, and manufacturers will be subject to a "spot" inspection at any time to have their prices checked. Although many manufacturers have been rather chary in accepting any scheme involving subsidies, it is considered bv manv that they could not continue 'facing' up to the rise since 1942 without some such treatment. It is understood that some difficulty was experienced in arriving at a suitable method of administering the scheme, but the majority have agreed to the plan in its present form.

ORPHANAGES APPEAL OVER £IOOO IN CITSY FURTHER AMOUNTS TO COME The street appeal on behalf of Auckland orphanages yesterday resulted in £lOl7 being collected in the metropolitan area, in spite of unfavourable weather affecting the number of collectors available. The amount received last year was £1607. but it is considered that this vear's response will he at least equal to that when the collections from the suburban boroughs and outer districts are received. The result was quite fair, considering the weather, said Mr C. F. Bennett, chairman of the Auckland Orphanages United Council, last night. The council's thanks were clue to the collectors who braved the storm to help, to the members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, who s-ssisted in the lunch hour, the St. John Ambulance Association, which organised the distribution of stalls and boxes, and to the staff of the Commercial Bank for counting the money. Mr Bennett said that Bishop Liston had made a personal donation of £25, and recommended the appeal to the schoolchildren of his diocese. The wet weather interfered with the appeal in Hamilton. The sum of £IBO was contributed.

BUSY SPITFIRES NEW ZEALAND PILOTS SUPPORT FOR CANADIANS (Special Correspondent) (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 19 The main role of the New Zealand Spitfire Squadron for the last week has been supporting the Canadian Army in its fierce battles on the Leopold Canal. Flight-Lieutenant W. A. Newenham, D.F.C.. of Nelson, who recently arrived in London on leave, said that in one day the wine to which the New Zealanders are attached did 12 separate attacks and every New Zealandcr did at least four each. Thev strafed German troops and positions and bombed gun emplacements. Flight-Lieutenant J. N. King, of Tauranga. whose Spitfire was badly damaged recently, had to make a forced landing near the Canadians and stayed with them for four days before being able to return to the squadron. The squadron has maintained its record of not having lost a single pilot since D Day. It found conditions of living under canvas in the recent wet weather very trying, with no fuel for drying damp tents and blankets. Tt welcomes the honey, jam and cake which are being sent from R.N.Z.A.F. headquarters in London. Tn fact. New Zealand cake is apparently one of the most popular eatables on any airfield in France.

INLAND AIR SERVICES EMERGENCY FIELD USED RONGOTAI AFFECTED BY RAIN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday The condition of the airfield at Rongotan did not permit of the landing of the Auckland-Christchurch and Christchurch- Auckland passenger aircraft today, and both services made their Wellington stop at the emergency landing field at Parnparaumu. Recent heavy rain had made the surface at Rongotai unsuitable for heavier planes, but lighter machines for the Cook Strait service and the DunedinWeliington service were still able to use the field. TWO FINES OF £IOO BOOKMAKERS' TELEPHONES (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday Four telephones were found in the premises of two brothers charged in the Magistrate's Court today with carrying on the business of bookmaking, according to Detective-Sergeant Thompson. "How did thev get four telephones?" asked Mr J. L. Stout, S.M. "We hear there is a shortage of telephones, yet when bookmakers appear they have two or more telephones. It is about time it was looked into." Each of the accused was fined £IOO. CIGARETTES IN GAOL PRISONER GIVEN PACKET A charge of delivering cigarettes to a prisoner in the Auckland gaol was preferred against Reginald K. Bain before .Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., yesterday. He did not appear. Evidence was given by a prison warder that defendant visited the gaol oh July 31 and was given permission to see a prisoner and collect, papers and a satchel from him. While defendant and the prisoner were together the warder saw a suspicious movement. The prisoner was searched and a packet of American cigarettes was found in his pocket. Defendant admitted to the warder that he had put them there. The magistrate imposed a fine of £3 and costs, TRAINER LODGES APPEAL (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday H. A. Telford, trainer, of Trentham, today lodged an appeal to the New Zealand Racing Conference against the decision of the Wellington District Committee, which dismissed his appeal from six months' disqualification imposed on him by the judicial committee of the Otaki Maori Racing Club in connection with the running of Caithness, trained by Telford, in the Ling Memorial Handicap at Otaki on October 7, and increasing the term to one year.