PANIC BUYING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24912, 11 May 1942, Page 4

PANIC BUYING

SYDNEY SHOPS STORMED ißec. 8.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 10. In a frantic scramble to beat the clothes rationing, men, women and girls mobbed Sydney's big stores yesterday, queuing-up long before the shops opened. They disorganised the traffic as they swarmed from store to store and bought so heavily that a number of shopkeepers were obliged to close their doors some time before the normal closing time. The, exhausted assistants were in a state of despair. They found that customers were not prepared to haggle over price and quality. Anything was readily accepted that came near requirements. Buying was not even confined to essentials. Counters displaying works of art, jewellery, handbags, and feather trimmings were besieged by shoppers, six to eight deep. Banks were packed with women with shopping cases and baskets eager to withdraw money. Several stores were practicaUy sold out of woollen goods and dress lengths, and compelled to display mostly linen and silk materials. Some business people were of the opinion that if the demand next week comes anywhere near yesterday's rush buying they will have to close for varying periods owing to having exhausted their sale quota.