BUYING RUSH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24913, 12 May 1942, Page 2

BUYING RUSH

SHOPS IN SYDNEY MANY EXHAUST QUOTAS (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Representative) (Rec. 0.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, May 11. " In spite of the warning of the Prime Minister, Mr J. Curtin, there was another orgy of shopping to-day, and many Sydney stores were forced to close early this afternoon, having exhausted their quotas. Sydney stores have now refused to handle any more “lay-bys,” and customers have been told that this form of buying has ceased until further notice. Ration tickets will .not be issued until July. Meanwhile, the responsibility rests with stores to control, their customers’ buying. A 25 per cent, sales cut came into operation to-day. No limit will be placed on prices under the rationing system. A man desiring an expensive suit will not be compelled to use a greater number of coupons than is needed for a cheaper suit.

Shoes, underwear, and women’s stockings appear to be the items in heaviest demand, but greatcoats and children’s clothing have also been purchased in record quantities. The buying rush is not confined to women. At one Sydney store 500 men tried to buy underwear, but there were only three assistants to serve them. “Women shoppers bought shoes regardless of price and size or whether they wanted them or not,” stated an assistant hi a large Sydney emporium. Melbourne. Perth and Brisbane all report record buying. Second-hand clothing has also come under the new rationing plan. CLOTHES RATIONING POINTS SYSTEM PROBABLE (Rec. 1 a.m.) CANBERRA, May 11. The British points system, with seme modification, may be adopted in the clothes rationing system. This limits the number of articles that can be purchased each year, and leaves the amount to be expended on each article a matter of personal Each person will be issued w'ith coupons representing a number. of points. In order to “ stagger ” buying, a proportion of these will probably be available for use in the second half of the year. National service registration cards are likely to be necessary when coupons are applied for, making clothes purchases dependent upon registration. By this means the Government expects to be able to round-up unregistered persons. It is believed that there are 200,000 who are liable, but still unregistered.