LIFE IN LONDON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10009, 4 April 1910, Page 4

LIFE IN LONDON.

An interesting comparison between the cost of living in London and in the colonies is made by the Sydney ''Daily Telegraph's" London correspondent. he compares London with Sydney, but as regards some of the items mentioned, a New Zealand centre could stand for the Australian city. He is dealing with the expenses of a young colonial student of any kind, and not with those of the householder. Food and board and lodging are, he says, dearer in London; clothing is cheaper; fares are about the same in both places. There are exceptions to the rule about food. A penny has a power in London that is unknown in the colonies. "A penny will buy a glass of milk, a milk clear above suspicion, and well ser- ' ved, in almost any street in the great metropolis. Other single pennies will command large scones, bread rolls, and a great diversity of cakes and pastry. One marvels not 30 much at these prices as at the fact, that they include comfortable seating accommodation, perfect cleanliness, and good attendance." Even in large restaurants one may enjoy a glass of milk without being made in the least conspicuous for frugality. On a lower level is the halfpenny cup of coffee or cocaa. But when the colonial wants a set meal, he longs for his home again. London does not offer the liberal colonial meal of meat and vegetables, pudding, tea and bread and butter, all for a shilling. "In eat-ing-houses of a similar class here the ! joint would cost J Od, the two vege- | tables 4d or sd, a roll and a small pat of butter 2d, and the tea or coffee | 3d, making a total of Is Bd. Add to this a twopenny tip, and your meal has cost you nearly twice as much as it would in Sydney; while, except that the meat would, taken over a week, be probably superior, the quality in the two cities would be about equal." An English system appreciated by the colonial is that of taking rooms with attendance. The lodger orders his food, and the landlady cooka and serves it. For those who like privacy and independence, this is a very convenient arrangement. It is also cheap; for £1 to 25s a week one can live comfortably in a couple of rooms in a good class of house. Clothing, however, is much cheaper in Lot>;.i:<v, and taking this and the cheapness of London's amusements into consideration, the correspondent thinks thaf noney goes further in Loiidongtban in Sydney.