Correspondence.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4880, 21 December 1883, Page 3

Correspondence.

FOUB-AND-9IX A DAY. TO THB BDITOB OB IHB STAB. Sib,— l notice in the sub-leader of the Lyttelton Times that a man can buy abundance of food for twenty-seven shillings a week, but the editor seems to quite forget house-rent and ooal 5 also, that wben a man is working be is wearing his clothes and boots, whioh will not last for ever. I also beg to oall that gentleman's attention to the faot, that four shillings and sixpence per day is not twenty-seven shillings a week, eince there are wet days to take off. I know at Addington the wet-time was stopped, if only half-hour. For my own part I have only got five in family. I have Bent you what it oosts me to live, and very poor living it is. I hope the editor of the Lyttelton Times will never have to live on it. Perhaps the editor will be kind enough to tell the unemployed whether they are tc get four shillings and sixpenoe a day, or twenty -seven shillings a week ; as I am sure the greater part of tbem will aooept twenty- seven shillings a week : —

[Our correspondent's remarks are by no means justified. It is not our^province to defend the Lyttelton Timet, but; neither in that journal nor in any other havo we seen it advanoed that four shillines and sixpenco a day would bo a sufficient permanent rate of wages. Inasmuoh as half a loaf iB better than no bread, we consider that the offer of the Government, whioh is distinctly understood to be .of a temporary charaoter, should be aocepted — if not thankfully, at loast without e'owling. — Ed. Slar.il

One day's rations— £ c. d. Bent, 7« per week ... 0 1 0 Coals 0 0 6 Bread 0 0 6 Milk 0 0 4 Meat 0 0 6 Vegetables 0 0 2 Soap and candles 0 6 2 Tea and sugar 0 0 5 Flour .003 Bitter 0 0 2 0 4 0 Per week £18 0 I am, 4,0., TJNBMPLOYiID.