THE COST OF LIVING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1276, 3 November 1911, Page 6

THE COST OF LIVING.

REVOLT IN FRANCE. "The revolt against the cost of living in tho North of France, which has spread with groat rapidity and been accompaniod by considerable violence, is an event tho true significance of vrhidi neither tho Government nor tho majority u{ tho newspapers seem to appreciate, perhaps because they aro unwilling to do so," says tho "Nation's" French correspondent. "It is, 111 fact, a revolt- against Protection, and, as tho fiscal policy of all parties in Franco is Protectionist, tho embarrassment of tho politicians is intelligible. "Tho French consumer is at last bo. ginning to realise that he, not tho toroigncr, pays import duties. Twentythrco Mayors of one Department have I mot and unanimously demanded tho removal of the import duties on meat, and [ resolutions in favour of repeal of duties J havo been carried at almost every meeting ol' the protestors. Tho Government I has pointed out that prices havo risen in other countries; that is Irut, but it is necessary to inquire vfbat prices were to begin with. Where, as in Frauce, tlioy \u-ru already intolerably high, any vise makes liie really impossible for largo numbers of people. "What would you say in London if you had to pay 2s. a pound for leg of mutton or cntrecote, as wo arc now paying in Paris?" asks the correspondent. "Ur nearly X 3 a ton for coal ? Tho prices of eggs, milk, vegetables, and other necessaries havo also risen to a height unknown during my rcsidenco of live years in Paris, Tho lowest prico of butter in the cheapest markets, those of the working-class quarters, is ltr. 60c. a lb.; tho worst eggs in tho samo markets aro lfr. 40c. tiio dozen; French beans 40 centimes a lb., mid so on. And this at the cheapest timo ot tho yoar, when all tho well-to-ao classes are away. Tho French pound is onetenth more than the pound avoirdupois, but even so such prices arc appalling." "ilio Times'' correspondent fays that tho President ol the Municipal Council, M. Felix lioiissel, has convened a meeting of all the heads of tho different entering trades of Paris for tho purpose of discussing the best means or counteracting Uio riso in prices.

Mr. Charles Arthur Batt (Church o£ 0 has beon appointed an oliieiatiiiff minister within tne provisions of tho Marriage Act, 1908.

Mr, George Vincent Wostbrooko (for. mcrlv a Umjorary officer) lias been appointed to be an n-piai-y inspector in tho Civil Service of the Government of New fc&land (Department of Agriculture, Co'mmom, ami Tourists), and an inspco. tor for the purposes of tho Apiaries Act, 1008.

Mr. Robert Alexander has boon tip. pointed to be Registrar of Brands for the W'aikato Branding Registration District and the Taupo Branding Registration District, vioo Mr. A. 11. BvukiU, transferred.

The Mayor and city councillors, together with Atr. Morton (city engineer), Mr. Amos (city valuer), and Mr. Drumniond (building inspector) tire to visit tho pro. perties owned by the City Corporation in Adelaide Road ami Riddil'ovd Street, with a view to forming a.definite policy con. corning the same, and fixing a propor rental value for the properties at present to let.

A complaint with resyvct to a fish, monger's premises w.i? reported to the City Council last p-vening by the Put:.!io Health Committee, but il vris agreed that no action bo taken pending the establishment of a municipal fish market.

The Lusriania, of the Cunnrd Lino, liaa established a new rvoord in. or.can travel by making throe trips across tlw Allan, tic in twouty days. The time spent in. unloading and taking on cargo and iu refilling the coal bunker.-; occnpicd about three days, so that the actual sailing time for thethrco voyages was only seventeen days. Germany has a bird-consorving experiment station, where artificial nosts, foods, and other instrumentalities for attracting birds arc "tried out." l/ooturos are given, and students from all parts of Europe come to be trained in tbo work which is undor tho direction of Baron yon Berlensch, who has devoted his ej. tatc at oeobacu to this purposo. \