CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 April 1920, Page 11

CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND.

SHOULD NEW ZEALANDERS COMPLAIN? A lady in New Plymouth who corresponds regularly with friends in the Old Country, has recently received a letter from England, in which the writer give* some account of the hardship? which the ' people of that country are still suffering as a result of the war. and which they expect to experience for some time yet. Apparently the New Plymouth lady had been giving her English friends some account of the trouble experienced in New Zealand in regard to certain lines of goods which were in short supply. The writer says: "With respect to cloth .... we have been glad to take what we could get, without a word as to design, style or price .... and we made the best of it ... . You have nothing to grumble about; your grievances are imaginary, and it is your bounden duty not to carp at any little thing which doe 3 not fit in with your wishes . . . You have not the remotest idea of hardship or inconvenience compared with what has been the case here. You have had unlimited comforts of which we have been deprived—and no personal danger whatever" As an indication of the state of things in regard to foodstuffs the letter gives some of the prices ruling, such as follow: Sugar, 6d per lb (with a limit of Coz. per head per week for all purposes); butter, 2s 8d per lb (with a one ounce limit); milk lid per quart; golden syrup, 10} d per lb. (when you can get it); jams, lid per lb (no flavor and not worth eating); only foreign meats are available and these are not generally in favor with the public; cheese, Is 8d per lb. The writer then goes on: "You will see that fruit puddings and pies, milk puddings, Yorkshire pudding, etc., are almost out of the question; good margarine is Is to Is 2d per lb, and is really the backbone of our fat supply. It is being gradually improved and is a great factor in our foodWe have bad a good supply of apples, fair of pears, but poor plums. Some kinds of fish have been very plentiful, though white fish is dear and takes a good deal of fat to make it nutritious. Potatoes have been very good in quality. Flour is cheap and good, thanks to the Government subsidy, which amounts to £50,000,000 each year out of the taxes. Oatmeal is much dearer. .... We are still having to make the best, of tilings and shall have to for a few years yet- When we read of the horrible state of affairs in a great part of Europe we ought not to grumble, for, as a matter of fact, we arc better off than any of them. The great curse of alcoholism is the shame of this country £4oo,ofio.ono ner vear spent on thin is simply dreadful! AVhen I speak to decent, well-conducted people about it, it is staggering to meet with the ignorant, callous things which pass for their minds. They simply like it and believe in it . . . and cannot see anything to replace it. And these people have votes! What can be done?"