EFFECTS OF THE WAR

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 48, 25 August 1914, Page 6

EFFECTS OF THE WAR

APPLICATIONS FOR RELIEF ONLY NORMAL. GUARDING AGAINST INCREASED PRICES.

Touching on the question of unemployment yesterday, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) stated that at present the application for relief were only normal, and, as far as could be judged, the war had not as yet increased the distress. With so many men from the country leaving with tho Expeditionary Force many vacancies were created which had to be filled. We . were practically a producing nation, and, providing the eea routes were kept open and our markets abroad were assured, the stress upon the people of New Zealand would not become pronounced unless the war wa« a' very protracted one. The quickest thing to affect the people, added Mr. Luke, would be increases in the prices of foodstuffs, and this was a matter in which prompt action should be taken. As to the increase in the prices of meat, he thought that the overseas markets should be supplied by any surplus there might be, and that normal supplies should not be interfered with. It was the duty of the Government to Beo that food prices approximated as nearly as possible to those obtaining at ordinary times. The present patriotic movement did not apply to one section of the commur-ity, but, to all sections, and all sections wero doing everything possible to support the Empire in its hour of trial. Some had given their sons and made other sacrifices, and it was essontial that on no • account should conditions be so changed as to alienate the patriotism and sympathy of tho people. The Mayor has Bent the following telegram to tho Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey) :— "Citizens, and residents adjoining districts, with all parts of the Dominion making honourable sacrifices their sons and resources to assist Empire to reach victory and lasting peace. City Council unites witli me in respectively urging you take immediate action to prevent inflation prices of meat a«d othor food lines, — J. r. Luke."