THRIFTY HOUSEWIVES.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 206, 28 August 1920, Page 20

THRIFTY HOUSEWIVES.

WORKING HAN'S DINNER FOR FOUR. The problem of the cost of living is so omnipresent in the mind of the public that it was not surprising that the solutions ofTered by the competitors nt the recent Ashburton winter show, states the "Guardian," in the class for "the best and cheapest working man's dinner for four" aroused quite unusual interest I among show patrons. The exhibitors I were constantly under the inspection of I groups of people, and the bread-winner | or housewife eagerly discussed the merits of the vnrious meals presented. Nowhere in tho blktsv perhaps had. tho judge a harder task, nor was big decision anywhere held under such close scrutiny as (here. Tho bills of cost were carefully considered by the critics, and many discovered an omission that the judge himself had noted. No allowance had been made by any of the competitors for costs of fuel for cooking, and more surprising as a commentary was the competitor's estimation of tho value of their culinary Bkill and the time and labour spent, for of that also was no account rendered. One cynical observer remarked that in Bpito of the claims of woman to equality, in this competition woman herself had clearly set forth her osvn value. On the other hand, others deplored the implicit acknowledgment in these modern days of. woman as a household slave. Finally, a lady cut in succinctly, "Woman has shown herself once more ready to deny . herself to feed the brute!" Tho judge's awards were: — Miss Purchase 1 Mrs. A. J. Lewis o Mrs. C. Doss-man y The bill of costs presented by the. first prize-winner is so interesting as to merit description in detail. The dinner consisted of soup, roast rabbit with potatoes, marrow, swedes, and onions, with baked apples for the sweets. The total cost was lUjd, and the individual items were pea rifle cartridge to kill the rabbit 4d, soup 2d, onions 2d, marrow id, swedes ;'d, potatoes Id, apples 3dAgainst this was set the sale of tho rabbit skin for V, Jetjving n profit on the provision of a dinner for four of 13d. The general remark'on this dinner was that it was highly ingenious. Criticisms may be indicated by some remarks overheard. "Silo has only to-kcep on cooking ehch dinners to make her fortune." "One would need to be a good shot to (keep down tho jbM for cartridges." At the same" time, it is fair to say • that no item of the nccount was questioned, and the dinner in appearance was voted as excellent. It should be added that if, as the judge hud done, the cost of the rabbit (9d) had been added to tho account, no allowance made for the skin, and halfpenny deducted for the cartridge, the dinner was still the cheapest, and cost just 1/03. The second prize-winner put on the table a dinner for four costing 2/1, and consisting of three courses—artichoke soup, beef nnd kidney pie, potatoes and mashed swedes,' and a steam pudding ■with sauce. Tho third prize dinner consisted of vegetable soup, braised steak, parsnips, carrots, mashed potatoes, and apple pie, all for the sum of 2/2. Tho other dinners on show cost l/B_, 2/11, and 3/2 respectively. Misa Bertha Mcrfteld, of Melbourne, hap opened an exhibition of mural decorations iv Sydney. -Miss Merfield ig ii decorator and artist of great originality, and "her exhibition in Sydney some years ago was very successful. A sister of tho artist is Miss Myra Merfhsld. LL.B., wiho last year was admitted to the Bar in Victoria.