SHORTER HOURS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24915, 14 May 1942, Page 5

SHORTER HOURS

AUSTRALIAN SHOPS p SEQUEL TO RUSH BUYING v SYDNEY, May 13. Restricted trading hours for retail shops were forecast by the Minister for industry, Mr J. J. Dedman, to check rush buying in clothing and shoe stores, which yesterday reached new fantastic proportions. Mr Dedman said a buying rush had been inevitable. The rush was already on when the Government announced its intention to restrict trading. Replying to suggestions that the restrictions would benefit the wealthy, the Minister said it was logical to assume that the poorer section of the community rather than the wealthy was buying more clothes, because, the money paid to, wage-earners was greater than ever before, whereas the incomes of the wealthy had been cut down, particularly by his Government. Unfortunately it was impossible to introduce rationing cards immediately, but it was essential before rationing .could .be introduced to conserve the pooTI qf,clothing .on which the rationing system , gquld be .based. Bearing these things in’ mind, it was clear that the method adopted by the Government was the only one suitable. After conferences with the Retail Traders’ Association and Assistants’ Union yesterday'Mr Dedman said the Government would announce new shopping hours'when the whole question of rationed goods and man-power had been considered. The Minister said the Government did not intend to prohibit continuance of the lay-by system, but he thought shops which could sell goods for cash would probably end the system without instruction.

PANIC BUYING CONTINUES (N.Z.P.A. Special Australian Representative) • SYDNEY, May 13. The panic buying of clothing continued to-day throughout Australia. Most of the Sydney stores sold their quotas within an hour of opening. Three days’ practice, it is generally conceded, have made the panic buyers amazingly efficient. Some city stores had queues of 200 or more outside their doors when they opened for business. One of the biggest crowds was at a store heavily placarded with the sign “Lend to defend.” Executive officers of firms express disgust with the present system of buying. They point out that legitimate purchasers with small needs have been crowded out by panic shoppers. . Most of the stores have announced that they will remain closed on certain days of the week until the coupon system comes into operation. One Sydney firm will close its doors against the general public until an announcement is made concerning the date when returning will begin. Clients may make telephone appointments and will be supplied within the limits of the store’s quota. “ Our' stock is being bbught by women who do not need the goods, but who are madly squandering their money,” declared the manager.

All stores have found that old stocks have sold readily now that customers have shown absolutely no discrimination in their purchases. While it is generally agreed that there must eventually be some reduction of staffs as a result of the quota, all firms are finding at present that they need full staffs to cope with the present hectic rush. In one large store, the girls who began work at 10 o’clock this morning left half an hour later—the quota having been sold. It is generally expected that the panic-buying rush will ease off next week.