CORRESPONBENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2413, 30 January 1909, Page 7

CORRESPONBENCE.

[Correspondence on public matters is welcomed at all times, but it must be distinctly understood that tliis journal is in no way associated with the opinions of its' correspondents.] THE COST OF LIVING. [To mu Edit ok.] Sir, —We often hear the remark from the Labor Unions that the iucreased cost of living is more than the increase in the wages at the present time, and this statement has called to my mind a comparison of the wholesale prices of, say, the year K LSSO, and tho last year, 1908. This I think will speak for itself: Prices Current 1880 190 S. Flour, T>er ton £2O £ll A Oatmeal £26 £ll £26 £l6 Currants - 7d ib 2§d lb. Sultanas 7d to Sd lb 2;]d to 3d lb. Raisins 7d lb. 3d l'b. Kerosene - 2s gallon lid gallon. Tapioca 4d lb. lid lb. Candles lid lb 6? lb. Vermicelli 9d lb 3-Jd lb Sugar, No. 1 £45 per ton £l6 15s ton „ No. 2 £4210s £l6 ss. ~ Cornflour ' - 7d lb s]d lb Tea and coffee about 50 per cent. cheaper than now. Cornsaoks 11s doz. 6s 9d doz. Woolpaeks 4s 6d 2s. Block wire £29 £lO Barb Wire £63 £l4 There are miany other articles a good proportion of which are about 50 per cent, cheaper than they were 2S years ago. Will anyone say that 'wages have not risen much more than the cost of living after such a comparison?—l (am, etc., - “FOSSICKED, ” DANGERS OF CYCLE PACING. (To the Editor.] Sir—l /read with great surprise •Mrs K. Warburton’s letter re tho danger of cycle racing on tho roads. I may mention that in large cities ■all over the world where they have splendid racing tracks, they _ a»so have rorid races, such as the .BathurstGoulbourn and Warmambool races, besides thousands of other smaller ones. Coming nearer home, however, at one time Gisborne had a very good track, but owing to the people not ’ patronising it better, it fell through, so. there is only the road left us to race on, and I flail to see why flip ■person riding on a. bicycle on a bunday has not as much right as anybody else has a .right to drive a horse and trap. Also, I absolutely deny Mrs K. Warburton’s assertion that there were seven riders riding abreast. She was on the wrong side of the read, and if the horse .was so scared, hew could she count so minutely seven, when there were only six, myself being one of tlxom? -1 think it only fair that such a statement should be denied; also tbe unfair “throw-off” about my being interested. I am interested in cycle dating, but not on Sundays, and if I choose to ride on a. bicycle on Sunday I fail to see that I am racing at all. The road should bo free to us all, and not to be owned by people who do not know the rights of the road. I shall not continue this controversy further, las I know that it is usual to let ia woman have the last word. —I am, etc, H. ANDERSON.