BYGONE DAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 243, 15 October 1931, Page 13

BYGONE DAYS.

"Oh we had a lot of fun in the old days," said an old pioneer at the Old Thames Girls' Association gathering yesterday afternoon, and her remark was agreed with by many others, who smiled reminiscently. "We had empty pockets and had to do with less, hut we were much happier, and everyone was more sociable and kiud."

In those days, the old lady continued, a family was well off if it had £2 2/ coming in. Wages were low, 7/6 a day being ueual, and 8/ considered good money. A navvy received 6/8 a day. Yet families (and large ones at that) were brought up on these comparatively meagre allowances. But everyone had a garden in those days ,and palatable exchanges were made. "I used to grow peas," said one, "and exchange them for beans which grew across the road." Rents were very low. Most people, after their original little tent, had a wliare or shack of some kind of their own, but cottages could be rented for 3/6, or 4/ a week. Meat was certainly cheap, too, a fine fore-quarter of lamb costing 2/6. Bread worked out to sid and 6d a loaf, and when it came down to three loaves for 1/ housewives thought they were "made." Bi'oad beans were 3/6 for a large bucket. Butter was cheap, being mostly home-made, but milk was 2d a cup, and on special occasions was bought as a 'treat' to put in the tea. Those, too, were the days when the Maoris used to call around with la.rge baskets of onions, and succulent peaches, which they would sell for a small sum. Sugar was fairly dear, at 6d a pound, with brown sugar obtainable for 4d. Clothing was reasonable. Good calico could be bought for 4Jcl' a. yard, and attractive prints and muslins for 6d.

"But people did not live the same as they do now," was the concluding remark, "and I am sure we had the better times. We made fun out of every, tiling, and the simplest things were exciting and worthy of notice., _ We helped one another gladly, even in the most dangerous period of our lives. What one hadn't got the other had, and altogether there was happiness and enough for all."