THE COST OF LIVING AT HOME.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15871, 10 April 1917, Page 6

THE COST OF LIVING AT HOME.

A CHRISTCHTTRCH SOLDIER'S

COMMENT,

"Writing from London, under date of February 18th, a Christchurch soldier says:—

The New Zealand Soldiers' Club is an ideal institution, run by New Zealand ladies, or those who have resided in New Zealand. Hero a change of clothing is available, hot aild cold showers and plunges, breakfast, dinner, and tea, and a good bed; billiard rOom, music room, and writing room, and the secretary will take care of one's cash, and give a reccipt ior it. Meals can be had aiiy time during the wholo twenty-four hours. iiroaiifast Bd, dinner (threo courses) Is, tea tin, bed Bd. When the dining-room. is closed the canteen js open, and one can order hot inoais througnout tho night, at about !an average prico of Is—say, two sausages, two eggs, toast, and tea, cofice. or cocoa, with potatoes. What more can a man need? The same would cost anything up to 2s Gd privately. For instance another Christchurch soldier and I went into a fish shop the other day, and ordered "half-n-dc»en oysters'' and a glass of stout. Oysters 3s per dozen (about tho 6izo or Auckland rocks), stout (3d per pint bottle. Then we went immediately for lunch at a popular place. Two small pieces of fish (yd), tea (3d), two small squares of sugar, potatoes (3d), bread aud butter (3u), and still wo felt hungry. Theatre —Pit 2s 6d, stalls 4s and ss. front stalls 10s 6d, boxes £1 Is to £5 ss. Have you got it? Business as usual. Oh yeß, but it is going, to bo worse before it gets better. Havo you observed the diet scale for families here!' And now they are seriously considering "rationing" the nation. Take a pull, New Zealand, conservo your 6 tor us; pull in your belts, and be prepared to eat less, and help tho Government more—never mind j what party is holding the reins.