WOMAN'S WORLD

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 302, 17 September 1919, Page 5

WOMAN'S WORLD

WOMEN AND THE COST OF LIVING

AN OPEN LETTER- TO MR. H&SSKI.

FROM WOMEN'S NATIONAL COUNCIL

The following open letter dealing with the cost ol living has been addressed to thu Prime iUinister tho lit Hon, W. F. Massey by the Wellington branch of the Woman's National Council:—'. Tlie lit. Hon. W. F. Jla'ssoy, P.O.', Prime Minister. Dear Sir—The Women's National' Council (Wellington branch) has been watching with great interest the attempts made by Parliament to grapple with tho .cost of" living problem. .in fact, the council was on the eye of asking you to receive a deputation of women who have suffered; put this lapsed on tiio appearance of tie Board ot Trade Bill. ■ This letter is to wish the new Board of Trade every success. At tho same time, there are certain matters we wish to lay before you ironi the woman's point of view. They ■»•* as follow-.— (1) Price of Pood.—ln view of the plentiful supplies -, of meat, fish, and iruit, sometniiig should be done to regulate the prices of t'riese commodities, so that the consumer can buy at a cheaper rate. In,the case of meat, the council has letters in its possession which state that the farmer receives about .£1 for a sheep. When sold by the retailer • tho carcass yields from ,£3 10s. .to £i, according to weight. Allowing Sor inflation of the currency, rind the fact that our prices are affected by. thosb prevailing in the Home markets, still 1 the Women's Council-is of the ( opinion, that meat should be. cheaper than it is at present for tlie people of New Zealand. , -Even .rabbits, which'were once sold for Is., are now retailed for, Is. Bd. without skins.-""-(2) Fish and Fruit.—Certain kinus of fish and fruit are plentiful in New .Zealand. Yet the prices are always high, nor. in tlie seasons of the greatest plenty do they show 6igns of any corresponding reduction in price. The council, therefore, suggests that investigations be made as to whether improved methods of transport, distribution, and the establishment of markets, would help in reducing the prices of these commodities. In regard to fish markets, Auckland appears to run hers very successfully, her profits for the last'year being, it is said, (£5001). What Auckland can do, surely other New Zealand towns can' do, too.

As for fruit, the advantages of markets seem to bo very much ou the side of tho general public. '■ The case of the barrowmen offers strong evidence in favour. For instance, barrowmen have stated that they could sell tomatoes at 4d. per lb. at a profit, when the shops were charging Bd. per lb. , (3) Drapery.—Here tho council can a tai.e unfold. Rumour hath it that towels which cost 9s. per dozen to land have been sold for 3Gs. per dozen; that women's coats made in .New Zealand for .£3 7s. lOd. have been sold in Wellington for 8 to 11 guineas; that colonial blankets that were retailed in 1914 at 17s. 6d., 255., 28s. Gd. pot' pair, were in 1018 retailed at 325. 6d„ 455.; ant l . 525. Od. per pair respectively; and so on in other cases, too numerous to quote, runs tho same sad stoty. And in tlip.se instances, rumour-is not the lying jade she is supposed to -.be, for tho Women's Council has corroborative evidence' in';its possession; and it hopes that the hero- Board, of .Trade will, not consider such:profits "reasonable,". Women are looking to the .new-board to remedy ii'U-tn'eab-ills, • • < •■••

:.'(4j'Waste—The council has noted that the'new, board is to deal with those who hoard, or, refuse to sell; but shouM-it not also deal with those who wilfully ivasto l" order to keep tip prices? In some cases, to prevent, prices falling, itis becoming the custom in this country to throw away largo quantities of fish and fruit, and oven to send quantities of drapciy to the destructor. Such practices should bo regarded;,: 88 criminal! There.are women's:societies which could receive these, things and distribute them among,the poor of Wellington. It is to be hoped': that the now, board wffll look into this matter of waste, with a view to drastic action.

Finally, sir, the Women's Council of Wellington is quite ready, to admit' that each section of the community is entitled to make profits within certain limits. At the same time it would point out that the idea is fast gaining ground that no profits should 'be considered "reasonable" when made at an excessive cost to, and /often at a deprivation,of, the community at large. : ,

Further, it is a serious matter-when mothers'of families are forced to. go out to .work, because the husband's income in the present conditions is often not lars's enough to food, clothe, and educate the children. Many.mothers aro rinding present conditions almost intolerable.

Again, to the people onfixey salaries, to pensioners, and some of our lower-paid wage-earners, tho inflation of the currency has brought extremely hard times,

Hoping, tnorefora, that tho suggestions made by the Women's Council will ho seriously considered by tho new board, and thanking you for your efforts in this matter, . . We are, Yours faithfully, N. B. COAD, President. LYEA. TAILOR, Secretary.