The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1920.

Evening Star, Issue 17320, 7 April 1920, Page 4

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1920.

The Dunedin Women Citizens' Association have entered the Women's Views lists against profiton the ccrs " and exploiters. Cost of Living. They will be cordially welcomed by the great number of wage-earners and workers .with fixed salaries, who in futile bitterness rage against economic oppression. The best experts on t>j purchasing power . v of money are. after all, the responsible women of the community. As the president of the said last night, the Cost of- Living is a women's question —they are the spending factor. It is the privilege of men to make money (a hopeless task outeido the exclusive circle of profiteering) and .meekly hand it o'ver> for wiss expenditure. The housekeeping •' problem to-day is entirely beyond the average man. He can only swear fct it and go "frowsy" to his office by way of practising economy. Women, are already noticing it. " Men were not going to pay 20 guineas for their suits—indeed, pxany of them were wearing shabby-look-ing clothes in their attempt to economise." Sympathy is always a compensation for sacrifice. It is clear that the members of. the - Women Citizens' Association have no 4oubt at all as to the extensive practice of profiteering. They itemised their indictment, and \ are ready to supply even laore convincing details. Miss M'Lean cited the prices for women's coats and Ekirts, and mentioned incidentally that! for a dark blue serge, perfectly plain, with no trimmings, £25 15s was. asked! No wonder that non-profiteering men who should be happy in their prime are now prematurely aged and gloomy! "She knew it to be true that hats were being , sold in their city at 6 guineas each. She '- thought it was a disgrace for women to put hats on their heads that cost 6 guineas." Since that frank and interesting opinion was applauded for its wisdom, 'flhy men, who find a gleam of happiness in being silent about the cost of women's gear, may hasten to add "and so say all % toi uSi" ——

It is right and proper that we should note that at last night's meeting the president drew pointed attention to the increased cost of newspapers, which had gone up 100 per cent. "In pre-war days (it was mentioned) a much larger space in the newspapers was devoted to reading matter than at the' present time, and the price of advertising had gone up in addition." The charge can be fully and convincingly answered 'without the intervention of the Profiteering Tribunal. As already stated in reply to a correspondent, the ' Star's' paper contracts for 1920 are open for yispeetion by the president of the Dunedin Women Citizens' Association. The profiteering Is not local. There is nothing in the' 1 complaint regarding the quantity of reading matter. It is quality that counts. Where, really, is there better value for twopence? But we honestly appreciate the work and temper of the Women Citizens' Association. Their efforts at securing more tolerable in the economic life of tlie community are commendable. It ! would not be surprising to learn that the j association's inspiration . was_ actually j drawn from the activity of this journal I m emphasising women's views on the I high Cost of Living, and fhe need for a I rigorous control of economic a'fi'airs so | that the rank growth of rebellious unrest j may be arrested. Unless some remedial j action Ls taken both by the public and the politician?, New Zealand will drift rapidly to economic disorder. It is' right, that women should co-operate in good ; temper to discuss ways and means of re- j dueiug the oppressive Cost of Living, j The mad expenditure of money on luxuries ! and gambling is not an excuse for sordid j profiteering; it is merely .national folly. Economy- iboth national" and domestic) should be the first aim of the country. At the' present pae,e what is the end to be? Advice has been received by the postal authorities that .45 bags and "38 hampers; j. of Austraiiun mail matter will reach Dun-i edin to'-night by the second express from" the north. Advice has also been received that the New Zealand mails dispatched by the steamer lonic, via the Panama Canal, readied London on March 31: Sir George Fenwick and Mr H. L. Tapley will address a Milton meeting tomorrow evening on the necessity of furthering the Hawea-Wauaka hydroelectric scheme for this part of the* Dominion. Milton has already arranged with the Dunedin City Council to be connected with the Waipori system for power and lighting purposes, but it is anticipated the farming community of tlie Tokomairiro district will beirtiiy support the HaweaWanaka scheme when it comes into being. An instance of what may be termed child slavery was mentioned by tlie Chief Inspector at a recent meeting of the Nelson Education Board. At one place he visited on the West Coast two boys had to milk nine cows and do the separating and other work before going to school, which necessitated their getting up at 3.30 or 4 a.m. The sum of money put through the totalisator on Easter Monday at the various race meetings throughout the Dominion totalled £364,433. Last year, on the same day, and in connection with the same meetings, the sums invested were under £25C.0C0. It is anticipated that Auckland's new museum buildins, to be erected in the Domain, will cost £100.000.* Cabinet has given n subsidy of £-25,000. The Arbitraium Court have filed orders incieasing war bonuses in the following local awards:—Engine-drivers, retail softgoods; grocers, painters, bakers, wool and grain store employees, and storemen ajid packers. It was stated at a Wanganui gathering that a girl at one of the woollen mills in New- Zealand bought some material she had helped to make at 8s 6d a yard. Later she went to a shop to buy a couple more yards of the material, and"found the price to be £2 5s a yard.' His Honor Mir Justice Sim has granted probate in the fallowing estates:—Frederick Robeit Bar! rum. John Ferguson, Grace Murray, John James Ecrett Glossop, Annie CalderJ and Thomas James Mayow. and letters of administration in the estate of James -Smith. In the matter of the 'estate of Charles Reid, a motion for confirmation of the Registrar's Teport, an order lias been made accordingly. On Saturday (records the ' Lyttelton Times') two young men named Petrie and White left the Kaituna Rest House at a I very early hour with the intention of walking to Akaron. Towards dusk White turned up at the Hili Ton Hotel in an exhausted state and reported that Petrie was down a gully unable to proceed. Two parties set out in search of Petrie, and discovered him just as night fell. He was carried to the Hill Top Hotel in a very exhausted condition, and it was found necessary <jto secure an ambulance and remove him to the Christchurch Hospital, to which he was admitted on Sunday. The cargo steamer Cathlamet, which is at present berthed at- the Victoria wharf, is named after a small town in the United States. o The vessel was built last vear ' for the United States Shipping Board,'and as she left the stocks was christened Cathlamet by Mrs Woodrow Wilson, wife of President Wilson, in honor of the inhabitants of tlie town, who subscribed over 100 per cent, of their quota, in proportion to population, to the United States Liberty War Loan. Considerable excitement was created nt Takapuna Beach, Auckland, on Saturdav morning owing to a bov about 10 year's of age falling-from the wharf. His "cries were heard by Selwyn Crespin, a lad 17 years of age, who promptly jumped in to his assistance, and was only just in time to pull him out after he had sunk for the third time. The boy was soon able to go to his home. Sehvyn Crespin had his arms somewhat cut by the volcanic rock near the wharf, but otherwise is all right after his pnicky action of jumping in when fully clothed. It is likely that some day Australia will "see a new type of coin—new in both its composition and its form. The Commonwealth Mint has made several experimental coinages of a nickel penny of square shape with rounded corners,'with the usual representation of the King en one side and with a kookaburra, on the other. The advantages of such a coinage are many, the chief being the great tightness of nickel as compared with bronze. The Melbourne Mint has been coining bronze pennies since June, 1919, and it is ready to turn instead to the minting of nickel ones as soon as it is instructed to do so by Parliament. A tailoring firm whose goods give service and satisfaction, and bate done so for manj years past: Ansell and Co.. Octagon.— [Advt.] New season's photographic goods; ,excellent stock now arriving l . Cameras from 6sj, Send your order early to Et. J. Gili, 11 and" 13 Frederick street, Dunedin. 'Phone 1,144. •—[Advt.] Watson's No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, but is worth the money[Advt,] ''White House," George street.—Best value in fruit and jam jars. Todd'3, next Plaza.— [AoVt.] New Zealanders on service found that there is no brandy like Cognac brandy, and no Cognac brandy like Martell's.—[Advt.] Blended correctly, aged correctly—Watson's No. 10 Whifiky, clean, soft, mellow.— [Advt.] The most popular Hotel in Dunedin is the City Hotel. High-class accommodation,* liquors par excellence;, in fact, everything is of the best. —[Advt.] Sing, ladies, sing to your heart's content, for washboard slavery has gone for ever, thanks to No Rubbing Laundry Help. Is packet sufficient for seven weekly washings. —[Advt.] "Choice Jewellery—Large selection diamond rings, watches, brooches, pendants, 'and silverware. Compare our values. Peter Dick, jewellers, etc., 190 Moray place.— LAdvt.: •