DEARER FOOD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20093, 13 November 1939, Page 12

DEARER FOOD

AUCKLAND COMPLAINTS HIGHER WAGES NULLIFIED lIOME-GROWN SUPPLIES Housewives throughout New Zealand to-day are loud in their complaints of the high level to which living costs have risen. Their complaints are fully justified. Not for many years have food prices in Auckland been so high, stales the Herald.

Wages have risen in the past four years, but for' many people higher living costs have more than nullified any increase they may have had in their pay envelopes. This is illustrated in the complaint of one housewife, who stales that it now costs her 8s for an order of groceries and vegettables for which she had formerly to pay 5s 6d

Range of Advances

The manner in which prices have advanced in the past four years is demonstrated in the following table: —

Many Factors Operating Several reasons are given for the increase in food prices. Higher labour costs are stated to be largely responsible. In another direction, marketing control by the State is believed to be a factor. Seasonal shortages have also had a marked effect upon prices. Vegetables 'are to be included in this category. Onions at present are almost unobtainable.

One effect of higher charges will be a large increase in the quantities of homegrown vegetables. This in itself will tend to depress prices. Fruit values are also expected to fall. Owing to the difficulty of getting space for the shipment of fruit overseas, it is believed that large supplies will be placed on the local market this season.

Fruit— 193G 1938 1939 Apples, lb. 3d-5cl l 4d-5d Gd-8d Oranges, doz. 2/-3/ 2/-4/ 2'2-3/2 Lemons, doz. 1/-1/G Gel-1 / 1/-2’ Bananas, lb. 5d-Gd fxl-Gd ' Gd-8d Vegetables.— Potatoes, lb. ltd lAd-5d 3d-Gri Onions, lb. 3d 4d Carrots, lb. 2d 3d Gd-8d Cubb a g e s. eaoh 3d-4d 8d-l ?d-8d Cauliflowers, each 3d-6d 8d-1/3 10d-l/G P a r s n i p s, ljd 4d 4d Pumpkins, lb. 4d-5d 4d Gd-8d Groceries. — Oatmeal, lb. 3Ad 4d 4.‘d Tea, lb. 3/ 3/ 3/6 Flour, lb. 2Ad 2 Ad 2 Ad Sugar, lb. 3Id 3:|d 4d Bacon, lb. 1/4 1 G 1 /G Butter, lb. 14 1/4 A IGA Cheese, lb. lOd-l.G 12-1/9 1 2-19 Eggs, doz. 1/C 1/G 1/9 Meat.— Rump steak lb. 12 1/4 1/4 Prime ribs. lb. 7Ad 8d 9d Mutton, lb. 8d 8d 8d Fish — Sell nap p e r fillets, lb. lOd lOd lOd John Dory fillets, lb. 1/ 1/2 1 /2 • Flounder, lb. 1/ 1/ 1/