Eating in Sydney

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33962, 1 October 1975, Page 16

Eating in Sydney

Sir. — Your correspondents, B. Henry, H. L. Garrett and L.P.D. should surely by now have recognised the fact that a large amount of the information fed to us about conditions and costs in overseas countries, is either false, or presented in such a way as to make us feel quite certain that this really is “Godzone” country. No wonder smugness is a national characteristic. — Yours, etc., NOT FOOLED. September 29, 1975.

Sir,—l too was most annoyed on the report in youi newspaper of food prices in Sydney. Only one week home from a third trip to Australia, I’m wondering where Mrs Rich did her shopping. I know where I could live cheaper and Australians have proved to us that we are sheer gluttons. We certainly did not live on milk and butter but took the opportunity to indulge in Extremely cheap fruit in quantity that we could not afford here. Large pieces of fish were a real treat after our lumps of batter, and after enjoying their snowy white fresh bread, we should be paid to eat ours. Restaurant meals were most reasonable. Once again we stocked up on clothing, shoes, and toys at a third of our prices.

Don’t stay away from Australia just because butter is $1 a pound. — Yours, etc., M. S. GARLICK. September 30, 1975.

Sir, — I agree with Mrs Garrett, Mrs Rich’s sweeping statements are not true to facts. Bread, butter and milk are dearer, but clothes, shoes, most fruits we found to be much cheaper. For instance, three lovely pineapples for 39c. If you look round you can find the small restaurant much cheaper than ours. There is one up a one-way street on the lefthand side of the Hotel Australia (Sydney) if you have not time to look: Go there. It is good and reasonable. I am frightened to go into ours here. Always the same excuse “everything has gone up.” We don’t have to be told that, do we? I am glad Mrs Garrett answered the way she did. I have a son, a daughter and two grandsons living in Perth, Surfers, and Melbourne, so we hear what is happening and we pass our prices on to them. — Yours, etc., J. C. September 29, 1975. [This correspondence is now closed.—Editor]