Evening star., 1944-09-17
Officials Deny
Shoe Rationinq
Will End in IA
Shoe Buyers Pack
D. c. Stores; Many
Seek Special Stamps
BY YvONNE CAHOON.

SPSS StSshfS
BY YvONNE CAHOON.
Shoe rationing will continue even
after the end of the war in Europe,
according to War Production Board
and Office of Price Administration
who yesterday warned
against the current rumors that
shoe rationing would be lifted this
year.
Washington retail stores were
crowded with shoppers preparing for
the back-to-school wardrobe. Mer-
chants declared buying this year
was heavier than last, and the Dis
trict OPA said that applications for
special stamps for children's shoes
were flooding the local boards.
A survey of the local stores re-
vealed, however, that very small
percentage of the sales were with
special stamps. On the contrary,
sales indicated that almost 25 per
cent of the sales during the back
to-scnool rush were made with the
airplane stamp No. /, while approx
mately 10 per cent of the buyers
were using their last valid stamp.
Expensive Types In Demand.
Felix Lippman, head of the shoe
rationing branch of the District
OPA, said the heavy shoe sales were
partially due to the fact that shoes
which a year ago were repairable
could not be used again this year,
Heavy selling, according to Dis
trict merchants, was primarily in
the more expensive type of shoe.
One manager said that his store was
not even carrying the cheap styles
1t had a year ago.
1t was estimated in one trade
publication that shoe rationing
would continue for as much as two
years after the end of the war, but
both WPB and OPA officials regard
this estimate as exaggerated.
The relese three weeks ago, one
WPB official explained, of regula-
tions restricting the manufacture
OF shoes in style and color was no
indication that the end of ration
ing was in the near future.
1t merely provides, he continued,
for greater variety of stocks in the
stores, so that the retailers, at the
end OF rationing, will not have an
obsolete supply on hand.
Military Needs Heavy.
Since Pearl Harbor civilian foot
wear production has decreased 25
per cent and military demands alone
have increased from $4,000, 900 pairs
in 1941 to $4,000, 900 pairs in 1s43,
three times the prewar needs. These
military needs, it is believed, will
not 60 back to normal for some time
after the war
While the manufacture of shoes
has remained fairly constant, the
retail and wholesale outlets are only
79 per cent of what they were. This
figure is explained in the military
need which comes first, both in
quality of leather and quantity.
Shoe inventories were decreased
by more than 53.000,000 pairs in
1943, and OPA estimatSs that there
will be an even further decrease
of 25,000,000 pairs this year, bring
ing the total supply in the Nations
stores to their lowest point.
During 1943, according to OPA,
retailers and wholesalers sold So
per cent more shoes than were
manufactured, 20 per cent of which
were taken by military -and lease
lend.
Millions Needed in Europe.
Allied demands alone do not con-
stitute the probability that shoe
rationing will not end with the
defeat of the Axis. 1t has been
estimated that 10000 900 pairs of
new and repaired shoes are needed
in Europe today.
After the war "the small countries
will want shoe leather-and they'll
get it," one WPB official declared.
Some will be distributed through
the United Nations Relief and Re-
habilitation Administration, and
some will be purchased by the Euro
pean countries themselves, it was
explained.
sManpower and leather stocks are
considered the greatest problems in
shoe production. Hidestocks avail
able for shoe manufacture have been
cut in half since the war, and despite
the joint purchase agreement be-
tween the United States, England
and Canada, the latter two countries
are short their share by 4,000, 900 and
100000 hides respectively. 1t has
been estimated that so per cent of
shoes in England today have wooden
Soles.