NYLON STOCKINGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27057, 16 April 1949, Page 8

NYLON STOCKINGS

Sir,—Perhaps “ Essential Goods First,’ who has given an explanation to “ More Nylons," would please explain to me just why X cannot buy nylons, flannel for my babies, sugar, eggs, a house, or anything else I might need if I have the money to pay for it. I used to be able to purchase what I required before “ the best Government the workers have ever known ” had control of this country.—l am, etc., Worker’s Wife.

Sir, —As a good citizen, “ More Nylons must know that Britain has requested us to live within current income—that is, from our exports. For the first 10 months of the year 1948, which are the latest figures available, we imported 1.447,032 pairs of full-length hosiery to a value of £351,835, and. of course, produced hundreds of thousands of pairs within New Zealand. What Imports should be reduced in order to import more nylons? I leave that to “ More Nylons ” to answer, remembering what Britain has requested. —X am, etc.. Fair Play.

Sir,—ln reply to your contributor, “ Essential Goods First," if she imagines that importers .can buy what they like, she is obviously mistaken. The Minister for Customs decides what we shall import and importers have no freedom of choice. They do not get a blanket amount of money to buy they require to balance up stocks and meet public demand. There are a number of tariff items for which licences are granted for various types of merchandise, but Importers cannot buy baby flannel under the hosiery licence or hosiery under a baby flannel licence. The position regarding Nylon hosiery at the present time is that the Minister for Customs, after repeated representations by the trade, still refuses to grant import licences to import nylon hosiery from overseas. Supplies of nylon hosiery from New Zealand manufacturers is very small indeed, and unless licences are granted by the Minister, the women of this country will have very little opportunity of buying nylons at all. The import control position is chaotic and importers have no freedom of choice to select and balance stocks according to public demand. We are heartily in agreement with the contributor’s last paragraph, '■ I suggest that a large number of the voung ladies of this town should delve into these matters and learn the real reason for shortages " —if they did so, they would find that the responsibility lies at the door of the Minister for Customs, as there is no lack of availability overseas, We are, etc., , Otago Retailers’ Association. W. P. Wellington, Secretary.