PRICES IN NELSON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 29 January 1909, Page 2

PRICES IN NELSON.

TO THE F.DITOtt. Sir— Many thanks for yOur kindness in publishing my rather lengthy letter, which I see has already fulfilled ite purpose. Grocers. butchers, and- ironmongers can say "absurd," and "its an untruth," but facts are chiels that v.inna ding." Let your reporter go mto any grocer's shop (not as a reporter but as poor hubby shopping for. the missus) and ask for a pound of wine biscuits for the baby to cut its teeth on — 6d ; any other town 33 per cent, less, just 4d. A pound of sliced ham lsj other towns lOd. Borax 8d here; other towns 6d ; and so on indefinitely. I suppose that in other places the carcases fall out of. the sky at wholesale rates, and that your butcher talks about the little trilling expenses such as abattoir fees, etc. Bisley's quotations for sheep (prime) last sale day was 8s; and in the face of that your butcher 6ays he pays 12s to 16s. It's too high to charge 6d and 5d for mutton and only paying what they ask for the two legs. In Auckland, where the weather conditions are infinitely worse than they are here, mutton is sold a penny a lb. lower all round, and the sheep are costing three times as much, viz., 245, according to the local sale quotations. I came here to bo near my relations. I like the climate, the towa. is pretty, and that is all. Naturc^htis done her best, but the tradesmen ate not helping her. Another matter should also be ventilated with your kind permission through your columns. While' house-hunting during the last few months it was simply appalling the quahtitv of refuse ana Sl-h, det.-a.yeci vegetable, matter, etc., to be found in the backyards of quite pretentious houses.' * I presume this is tho cause of blowflies to bo found in every house, shop, and hotel, There is no dust cart (unless.at 3d a trip) and the result is the refuse of the houses gets added to by each.. tenant. I am sure there cannot botany health inspectors. The very same grate that I can buy elt-ewhere for 30s I have lo pay £2 10s for here; saucepans are from Is to 2s dearer each, and so on.- I priced some heavy sheeting for children's beds, and found it 3d a yard more hero, and it had the very samr> mark on it. One can buy rubbish cheap anywhere ; but good materials are quite 30 to 50 per cent, dearer here than in other towns. I will finish with an illustration of how things are done here. Lately a man started in business and out down prices from 20 to 50 per cent. When asked if it paid to sell so much below the other shops, he said yes, and it gives him a fair margin of profit. Apologising for trespassing so far on your space, I am, etc., GRACE B. VINCENT. Waimea-street, 27/1/09.