THE SUPPLY OF SHIRTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26451, 3 May 1947, Page 8

THE SUPPLY OF SHIRTS

Sir.—l quite agree with “ Shirtless,” for I am another wife who has trailed the town for, I should say, two years, and at shop after shop the answer is. " Madam, if your husband takes a large neck size, there are plenty ” It will certainly be the same from Invercargill to Christchurch. I am another who has patched shirts till, with cold weather approaching, one shudders to think of wearing them. I wonder, too, if our great Labour Government has the doing of this, or is it because the shopkeepers are letting too manv of size 3 go to one customer.—l am. etc. -Justice.

Sir, —If shirts are so plentiful in the shops it seems strange that Mr Arthur Picard found it necessary to use " diplomacy ” to secure an extra one. Usually when goods are in full supply the shop-

keepers are eager to sell and the neec for diplomacy is missing. True, we havt' the best country in the world, but .it would be much improved if we had s Government that had not won increasing odium by its link-up with Communism the vilest doctrine in the world; or 1/ it was capable of exhibiting sometivnj? more than a sectarian' range of vision In our midst we have a legion of forgotten women (the human packhorse, 01 housewife), who lives in a world of demand and little supply, with queues' ano coupons, a ghastly nightmare. Yes, we have a grand country, but why should the housewife have to use diplomacy to get a shirt or two foi her husband? Why should she have to assume either the ' hangdog look of the hardened sinner, or the brazen cheerful optimism of the ** con "-man, when she whispers to her grocer, “can I have a pottle of'honey, some eggs, or butter? " Why should she be guilty of a' crime ii she gets a pint of cream, or a pair of stockings without the necessary coupons? Why should these victims of a worn-out regime be. greeted with a frigid and haughty reply in the negative if they ask for extra tea or sugar? Why should huge quantities of sugar, butter, meat and tea be made, available to the Maoris by a special permit when the Prime Minister makes a . s .?' ca H ed goodwill tour amongst them, while millions starve in Europe and England calls for food for her hungry people? Yes, Mr Picard, we have a splendid country, but a rotten Government.—l-am, etc., .. „ Matilda. May 2