AUSTERITY SUITS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25454, 8 February 1944, Page 2

AUSTERITY SUITS

ABOLITION IN BRITAIN POSITION IN DOMINION (Special) AUCKLAND, Feb. 7. In view of the abblition of austerity suits in Britain, which took effect from February 1, tailors are hopeful that New Zealand will soon follow this example and so end what many described as a farcical situation. The regulations have never been popular with tailoring establishments, and it is contended that no real saving has been effected. S Several tailors expressed the hope that reasonable notice would be given if and when the restrictions were lifted. Material supplies have been more plentiful recently, and many establishments expect to carry fairly heavy stocks of austerity suits shortly. Naturally, they do not want to be saddled with large quantities of austerity suits when normal tailoring is resumed. There appeared to be nothing in the regulations to prevent the purchaser of a ready-made austerity suit from taking it to a tailor, who could add all the little extras which so many meh desire in a suit. Not only was this a waste of labour, but it added considerably to the cost to the consumer. One tailor estimated that to insert a ticket-pocket in a coat would cost 2s Gd. Other common additions whicn were being done by tailors were:— Shorten sleeves and sew on buttons, 3s 6d; make and fit back-strap to waistcoat, 3s 6d; inside pocket in waistcoat, 3s 6d; fob-pocket in trousers, 2s Gd; shorten trousers and make full cuffs. 4s. The total added cost to the customer, therefore, was 19s Gd, while all this work could be done for about onethird of this price if it were carried out while the suit was being made. All tailors carried stocks of odd trimmings to make these additions.