BRITISH WORKERS' LUXURIES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 156, 17 March 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

BRITISH WORKERS' LUXURIES.

WHERE THE HIGH WAGES GO

"Munitions" has coiu 0 to be a magic work among the workers of Sheffield, says a "Times" correspondent. IV(> years ago it was outside tho vocabulary of all but a few; to-day it. is continually in the mouths of the men and v.omen living in this typical great arsenal city. It stands with them for hard work but high wages, for unexanip'ed prosperity, and for a considerable sense that a halo of patriotism rests upon the Labour of the day. Apart from the local supply of labour thousands of workers have come to the cjty from other parts of the country, and housing accommodation is so strained that the I/ird Mayor recently issued an appeal to citizens to take in tlr's immigrant population as lodgers.

The weekly outpourings of money in wages has swollen to a remarkable total, and th<? tradespeople who cater for the wants —and one must, add in some measure the extravagances—of the war workers have had the best year within their memory. Inquiry does not suggest that any large part of the excess earnings is being systematically saved, although in the Lack of thrift the Sheffielder is no worse than his mate in other towns where trade is good. Tho more thoughtful among the artisans are putting an adequate share of their present h'gh wages into the War Loan or the savings banks best understood by their class. There is reason to believe that others are hoarding money in their hom.es, and a reasoned appeal might secure this money for the use of the State.

FURNITURE AND PIANOS

In a groat, number of cases the only investment favoured is tlio purchase of furniture. Wives who have long wished for a sideboard, or a sewingmachine, or some other article which in ordinary limes ha* been beyond their means, arc at labt able to realise their ambitions.

There is also a good demand—sometimes a fooljsh demand —for pianos. A man and woman walked into a shop ori .t remit Saturday night and asked the price of a piano in the window. " ' 11 as the answer given. "Is it a good uii?"' inquired the man. "It is a. j;ood instrument for the money," the dealer said. "Can'sta send it up to .ihr 'ouse?" came the next question. "Yes, whion it is paid for," was the comment of the shopkeeper, who wis not in the least expecting to do uusiiioss. "Oh, that's aw root," said the man. "Hero's a pun note, and we'll tiring r.shnd tcrmorrow." Tlio next morning the balance was paid and the piano was delivered. Tn the house to which it was taken the '.nt'rnated value of the furniture in the home was considerably less than the price paid for the instrument.

MOTOR CYCLES AND JEWELLERY \ oung mechanics arc buying motor cycles, often with n sidecar attached, mid hundreds of tiicm may ho soon on Sundays riding the machines on the Derbyshire roads. Tins wives of the munition workers take their share in th.e spending. Women, who in the past have been able to buy only the cheapest clothes, are now ordering costumes cost : ng £1 and even £'•">. guinea bats, and expensive shoes. The manager of a bootshnp states that h;s cummission on sales during the pa.vt twelve montlis i'.i the highest he l.as c".or obtained. Jeweliers are doing an extenrvc business in rings, po'd bracelets, [irooclics, lockets, and other trinkets. Manufacturers of electro-plate, wh > [ hundreds of men for, the Army in the early days of the war, when trade came "almost to a standstill, find it. difficult to execute the orders now pouring iin. Another van ty is the purchase of elaborately-mounted umbrellas. A working-class woman in a tramear explained the possession of an umbrella which she said had cost 4">s by tlie simp'e remark, ".lacks on mnn;tions."

The restrictions imposed by the Central Control Board have checked any temptation towards undue exj>eiiditiire en liquor, though it is fair to say that the great employers of labour have never complained of excessive drinking among their men during the working hours of the week. It is assorted, en the other hand, that m,en who formerly drank beer have changed tneir refreshment to tli 0 more expensive whisky-and-soda. I'non food the workers' wives n.e spending money freely, and grocers and provision denier* "-ay that the women will luive only the be:.*.