COST OF LIVING

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3558, 21 August 1920, Page 6

COST OF LIVING

GREAT U.S. CAMPAIGN. "BUY NOTHING CLUBS." The London "Daily Telegraph" correspondent, writing to 'bis paper from New York at the beginning of May, says:—The public efforts to reduce the high cost of living are j branching out, and as the Overalls. Club, becoming firmly established, attention is being concentrated upon beating down the present expensiveness ox restaurant food by advocating that office workers and professional 3nen shall copy Labour by carrying luncheon to business with them. Not content with their present endeavours the lighters against the high cost of living are already starring a campaign to revive last year's straw hats as a protest against the extreme price of a sovereign for men's summer headgear. Next Saturday a great *'economy parade'' composed of men, ■women, boys and girls' wearing overalls, khaki-patched clothes, and gingham dresses will march up Fifth Avenue, New York, in an effort to spread the gospel of lower prices. The Mayor of the city, who at one time was an electric train operator, has been asked to assume -his working man's garb and lead the parade, and many prominent business and professional men have promised to participate. The "Overalls Clubs" acre being supplemented here and there by "Buy Nothing Clubs," the members of which pledge themselves to purchase nothing except bare necessities, refrain from luxuries, such as theatres, ice cream, and sweets and to walk whenever possible in order to avoid paying fares. In Philadelphia a movement has started to abolish evening dress as unnecessary and extravagant, and from day to new ideas are being advanced, affecting some article of daily use. It lias been suggested, even, that sandals be worn during the

slinmer months- in order to reduce the coat of sole leather, and it is true that Dutch wooden shoes have- al ready made their appearance on Fifth Avenue. Labour is lending its heartysupport to most of the economic movements, but they are opposing the Overalls Club on the ground that tie demand for 'he blue material is sending the price sky high. Merchants and retail shops are becoming alarmed at the economy movement, and the Dress Industries Association in New ToTk loudly protests against, the

■ absurd attempt to solve the eeoaomic problem." The Department of Justice is actively co-operating with the public, movement, and has arrested over 1000 profiteers, of whom about fifty have been convicted and sent to gaol.

"Quia Pro Quo," translated pat, Merely means—give this for that, And the glad content we feel When we get an honest deal, When the thing for which we pay Does not confidence betray, That satisfaction, we assure, When using Woods' Great Peppermint