THE ROBBER IN THE KITCHEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 73, 23 September 1943, Page 8

THE ROBBER IN THE KITCHEN

FACTS AND FIGURES THAT GET THE GOVERNMENT RATTLED. Nothing in the election campaign has got the Fraser Government so badlyrattled as the PLAIN; UNVARNISHED FACTS about the rise in the cost of. living. When prices of everyday commodities have been quoted showing the absurdity of claims to have kept living costs under control, the Fraser propaganda machine has been put to work-at once in-an effort to .refute, the damaging evidence. However, the task is hopeless. * The* Government has tried all sorts of devices to disguise the rise in costs, which began :XONG - BEFORE THE WAR. In efforts to delude:the public it has''authorised the sale of rshortweight loaves, it has allowed the increase in costs on low-priced articles to- be loaded, on to more? expensive though equally necessary lines,:and it has ladled out big subsidies, condemned by the EconomicV.Stabilisatibn Cbmmittee as "dangerous," in order to conceal the real position. •" ; . . ■ Back in 1939) BEFORE THE WAR, prominent Trades' ;Unionists like^^F. P. Walsh and Peter J Butler:v^ere'v'ligettinig worried abouf the effect of ;soaring- living costs on the; worker's budget-^To-day they soft-pedal that issue, .but' consumer^ •: can^t^be; fooled .-any^^bnger. ;Labbur!s'inv.isible;s^a"gev,cutS'have gone on long enough:'* VOTE'NATIONAL.— , Advt. V ; ■ •■;:- '■ S&; :M^''■-W., ':<\>'.\j-V