LIVING COSTS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21199, 25 June 1934, Page 10

LIVING COSTS

MEAT EXPENSIVE IN ENGLAND CHEAP CLOTHES AND TRAVEL An interesting comparison of living costs in England and New Zealand was made by Dr. W. Bryden in an address to the Workers' Edu-" cational Association on Saturday evening. From his experiences. Dr. Bryden found that while food was cheaper in New Zealand, clothes and travel were cheaper in England. Meat was regarded more as a delicacy in Zngland than in New Zealand, said Dr. Bryden. This was particularly so in Scotland, where it was a treat to be enjoyed on Sundays. Roughly the price of English or Scottish mutton was Is lOd a pound, lamb 2s 4d a pound, chops 8d to lOd each, beef Is 8d a pound, and pork 2s 6d a pound. Cooked meats were even more expensive. Cooked ham cost 3s 8d a pound, anil pork which had been cooked and stuffed cost 4s a pound. This explained why meat was not an everyday item in lodgings where r reasonable rate was paid. „ Vegetables also were dear, and he noticed that they wctd seldom served during the week, with the possible exception of swedes or turnips. On Sundays cauliflower or cabbage was served. This was understandable when it was realised that cauliflowers were seldom less than Is 6d each and cabbages Is 4d each. Lettuces cost 6d to 9d each. He had seen peaches at Is 6d each in a shop window in Glasgow. People in England were amazed at the price of meat, fruit, and vegetables in New Zealand. Butter, said Dr. Bryden, was just as, cheap in England as in New Zealand, and fish was very cheap and very good. Potted meats such as brawn were fairly cheap, but kidneys were worth 6d each. The relatively low cost of clothes and shoes made up for the high cost of food. In an old pair of flannels and a coat of Harris tweed a man was dressed adequately for six days of the week. The cheapness of travel was another compensation. It was possible to go 800 miles in a train for £3 or a little more, and 900 miles in a bus for slightly more than £2. Week-end train excursions made travelling very cheap.