CLOTHING SHORTAGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24633, 14 June 1941, Page 14

CLOTHING SHORTAGE

YEAR’S SUPPLY IN AUSTRALIA FASHIONABLE TO BE SHABBY (Air Mail) SYDNEY. June 4. Overseas visitors have often told Australian men that they are poor dressers, but soon it may be fashionable to be shabby. t The rationing of civilian clothing introduced in Britain may be adopted shortly in Australia. A warning was given by the president of the Clothing Manufacturers’ Association of New South Wales, Mr H. C. Daymond. At the request of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, Mr Daymond prepared a record to be broadcast to Australian soldiers overseas warning them that, because of the shortage of cloth for civilian use, they might have to wear their service tunics for some time when they returned to Australia. The record, which is now on its way to England, will be broadcast through the 8.8. C. AH for Fighting Forces “After present stocks of cloth in Australia are used up,” said Mr Daymond, “ there will be no new suits for Australian civilians for the remainder of the war—if the Commonwealth Government adheres to its policy of using the entire production for the fighting forces.” The Government’s policy has been to use 90 per cent, of the production of woollen goods for fighting forces, and it is intended to increase this to 100 per cent. It is doubtful if present stocks of civilian clothes will last for 12 months. The tendency is for people to hoard, and they arc buying feverishly in What is usuallv a slack period for retail stores. Both I men and women are using the lay-by i svslem. plating deposits' on clothes I they will not need for months, j Watch on Profiteering 1 Sydney has become the Mecca of buyers from other capital cities. Interslate representatives are combjng warehouses and factories for supplies, in some cases paying top prices for fabrics which had no sale previously. Prices have risen nearly 30 per cent.. but a watch is being kept by the Prices Commissioner, Professor Copland to prevent profiteering, -vfor which several firms have already been fined. The cost of some imported cotton fabrics has risen 100 per cent., and the general increase is from 50 to 60 per cent. The retail price of Australian-made woollen fabrics has risen about 15 to 25 per cent., due_ mainly to higher wages awards and increased sales tax.