Evening star., 1942-10-27
Stocks Of NyIon Hose
Low, Merchants Say,
In Answer 10 owl
Intimution Of Hoording
Brings Reports They
Cont Buy Supply

Washington merchants, In gen.
eral, had this comment to make
today on the statement issued yes
terday by the once Of War 1nfor-
nation to the effect that there
would be plenty of nylon stockings
for the Christmas trade:
WED like to know where to find
them"
Department store officials were
unanimous in saying they had few.
if any, nylons on hand and they
added that the manufacturers held
out no hope of any substantial
number for the holiday business.
owl quoted the War Production
Board as reporting there were at
least $500, 900 pairs in manufac-
turers' stocsk on October and it
was "a safe assumption" there were
many more thousands of pairs in
the stock rooms of retail stores.
Owl contended that both manu-
facturers and stores had been de
liberately holding back" nylon stock
ings from public anxious to buy
them. With price ceilings fixed by
the Office of Price Administration,
owl added, there no longer was any
incentive to hold stocks and they
were expected to be released freely
for the Christmas trade.
Stores Deny Hoarding.
Local store officials denied EN-.
phatically that they had been
boarding nylons. If the manufac-
turers are doing it, the merchants
added, they have no knowledge Of
1t and have received no indication
that they can get all the nylons they
want.
1--WE deal with six or seven Of
the best known manufacturers Of
hosiery in the country" officials Of
the Woodward & Lothrop depart
ment store told The Star. I'VE
know of no such supply and we
don't believe it to be true. If a
large supply of nylons should be-
come available we would be very
happy to inform the buying public
of that fact"
1t was said at this store that its
limited stocks of these hose had
been sold promptly and there were
no reserves. A spokesman added
that Where our store used to get
1900 pairs a month. during the
present month we obtained only
$50 or less than S per cent of the
former supply" This official also
said that one of the stores best
manufacturing resources was able
to promise only two dozen pairs Of
nylon for November. Another large
store reported that it had nylons
only day by day." and that it had
no reason to expect any substantial
quantity for the Christmas trade.
Reported Hard to Get.
An executive of another store
asked to comment on the statement
OF OPA that nylons would be plenti-
full, said: II wish you'd tell me
where we could get them. We'd be
delighted to have them"
Another department store reported
that it hasn't Single pair of nylons
In stock at the moment and has
received no assurance when it will
have.
Similar comments came from
merchandising managers Of other
stores.
One hosiery buyer expressed the
opinion that if all the nylons on
hand in the entire country were
placed on sale they wouldn't last a
day. She added that she had made
diligent efforts to obtain more OF
these popular stockings for her trade
but had not had any luck.
1--WE may have some for Christ
mas" said another buyer, but the
chances are exceedingly slim. have
made trips to the manufacturing
centers and have found no evidence
to bear out the optimistic statement
of the OWL"