NEEDED GOODS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26530, 4 August 1947, Page 4

NEEDED GOODS

RETAILERS ALARMED REFUSAL OF LICENCES CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT’S ATTITUDE P.A. WELLINGTON, Aug. 3. “ Considerable alarm was expressed at a recent meeting of the council of the New Zealand Retailers’ Federation at the action of the Customs Department in refusing to grant additional licences for the importation of such items as babies’ shawls, woollen piece goods, linen table cloths, women’s woollen underwear, negligee shirts, cups and saucers, etc.”, states a report issued by the federation. It was reported that since the beginning of July, additional licences based on evidence of availability had been refused, presumably in anticipation of the release of the 1948 import schedule. “While appreciating the fact that the issue of the 1948 schedule cannot be long delayed,” the statement adds, “ the federation cannot understand the department refusing to grant licences for such essential items as babies’ shawls, woollen piece goods and women’s woollen underwear, the supply of which is so critically short. Offers of th,ese goods must be accepted without delay, and the advantage must be taken of every opportunity to obtain supplies. The federation feels that some provision should be made to allow acceptance of these goods. “ Since the recent announcement in the House regarding the suggested early arrival of baby wool, every retailer in the country has been inundated with orders. Unfortunately, many women will be disappointed. While jt is true that a quantity of baby wool is expected on the Brisbane Star, this ship is not scheduled to arrive at Wellington until about August 21. Some 10 or 12 days must then elapse before delivery will be made from the wharf to the warehouse, and then it will take four to five weeks for orders to be sorted and despatched to retailers all over the country. It can, therefore, be seen that it may not be until the first week in October that supplies will be available to the public. “ Retailers throughout the country have been requested to give priority to purchasers holding supplementary ration books, and thus allow mothers with children first opportunity to obtain whatever supplies of white wool become available.”