"AN EASY LIFE"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 153, 2 December 1938, Page 18

"AN EASY LIFE"

SOUTH AFRICA TODAY

COMPARISON OF COSTS

(By Telegraph-Press Association.)

' CHRISTCHURCH, December 1. I couldn't live in New Zealand again now I know how heavily taxed the people are and how expensive things are," said Mr. J. J. Ormandy formerly of Christchurch and recently a building contractor in Johannesburg m an interview. Mr. Ormandy has returned to Christchurch for three months, after which he will return to South Africa, where "things are so easy that they don't care a hang about politics,"

The last four years in South Africa had been very prosperous, he said. Taxation was not heavy and only income above £400 a year was subject to income tax. He was speaking of the Transvaal, he said, and there was no wage tax or unemployment tax of any sort. There was a poll tax of £ 1 a head for all natives over 21, 30s a year for men between the ages of 21 and 25, £2 10s a year for men over 25, and 30s for all married men.

Of politics in South Africa Mr. Ormandy said that many people "did not ever bother to vote." "It is not like New Zealand," he added, "where you hear the school children talking politics. Life is too easy."

Comparing prices of ordinary commodities with those ruling in New Zealand, he said that bread in South Africa cost 66. for a 21b loaf, and meat and milk cost about the same as in New Zealand. Tradesmen's labour was expensive and rents were high. Clothing, however, was cheaper, and fruits, specially citrus fruits and bananas, were much cheaper. Grapes could be bought at 41b or 51b a shilling, cases containing 60 or 70 oranges cost Is 6d, apples were a little expensive, about six for a shilling, but small peaches for cooking could be bought at 100 a shilling.

Motor-cars in South Africa were £50 cheaper than in New Zealand, said Mr. Ormandy, and petrol in Johannesburg cost Is 3d a gallon. However, registration charges were based on horsepower and the weight—from about £6 a year to £12. There was no compulsory third-party risk and insurance expenses on a car might be £10 a year.

Since the European crisis of September there had been a decline in the building trade, as people were unwilling to speculate. This had caused a good deal of unemployment, mainly among badly-trained tradesmen.