QUESTION OF PRICE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 109, 19 February 1929, Page 2

QUESTION OF PRICE.

ALLEGED OVERCHARGING. (Special to the "uuardian.") CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 18. Allegations of overcharging Avere made by a labourer just returned from a Public Works roading contract in the back country. This man received £5 4s 2d less 7s 4d for fares for ten clays' work. Ho paid £3 9s lOd for groceries, and £4 8s 4d for clothing and sundries. The upshot was that he was in debt to the storekeeper to the extent of over £2 for the period. The articles on the grocery account were referred to a local shopkeeper for comparison. He said that, although the majority of the prices were not excessive as compared with town prices, there was a fair difference on some of the lines. Honey, for instance, was charged at 2s per pound, the Christchurch price being Is Cd. Bovril was at 'o's 9d as'compared with 5s 3d; arrowroot at Is. 2d, the local prjce being lid; dried apricots, at Is 4d, town price Is; and cocoa at 3s 6d, with the Christchurch price threepence less. In the account for wearing apparel and sundries two pairs of black hose are charged at os 6d per pair, two pairs of cotton and wool underpants at 10s 6d a pair, and two cotton and wool short-sleeved singlets at 7s Gd each. Of course, these are extras, but it has to be taken into account that the average unemployed man going on to relief work is not too well equipped ill the matter of outfit. A German tin kerosene' lamp is charged at 5s 6d. A local grocer, when asked to comment on the prices charged, stated that while a fair number of the items were somewhat over-charged, the other items were on a par ivith city prices, and, taking into consideration the cost of transport, and the low prices prevailing in Christchurch, on account of keen competition, the majority of the prices were not excessive.