PRICE OF BEER.

Evening Star, Issue 23353, 24 August 1939, Page 17

PRICE OF BEER.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —It amuses one to read “ Working Bullock’s ” letter in your last night’s issue, wherein he challenges any hotelkeeper to a debate which must take place in a bar. Are respectable citizens who look forward to their daily “ spot ” to put up with the nuisance of “Working Bullock?” If he doesn’t like the price of beer Jet him keep away from the hotels. He goes there of his own accord and is not dragged in. I think the publicans are quite justified in “balancing their budget.” Even ‘ Truth ’ is now 4d, and “Working Bullbck ” should know ‘ Truth’s ’ profit for the year. The publican _has had a lot to contend with in the import restrictions —increases in staff salaries, cost of living, and various other taxes. “ Working Bullock,” no doubt, would be too ignorant to understand. I may i'ust mention the losses the publican las suffered with broaching of cargo, etc.—l am, etc., Onlt A Woman, . August 23. TO THE EDITOR, Sir, —The watersiders are still squealing over the price of beer. 1 think sane New Zealanders are getting a fair sickener of these protests. Not so long ago the watersiders decided not to load pig iron to Japan, Yet when the Great War was on and wo were sending thousands of our boys on troopships, what warships escorted them from New Zealand waters with hot one single mishap ? Then consider the number of strikes, hold-ups, and losses with oversea boats with our imports, meat, etc. The Government should take a hand here. Then, again, the number of German ships, liners and tourists (not forgetting von Luckner inquiring as to the equipment in our prisons), Russian singers, dancers, comedy harmonists being given civic receptions and entertained by Government officials. Then, again, look through the radio programme book (‘ The Listener ’) and sort out the foreign names engaged at various stations. I notice the watersiders did not go to the station master when railway fares were raised for travelling. Neither do they visit the vegetable shops where we once paid lid for three or four in a bunch of carrots, whereas we now pay 3d for a bunch of three, also KM for a cabbage, 5d and Gd for a swede. Vegetables evidently are not a necessity to the watersicler—not when the hotel counter lunch is on. When I inquired of a local fish shop why crayfish (the size of an overgrown beetle) were 4d and Cd each, he replied the increase in the petrol was the cause. Would you please inform me if this is correct, for I was under the impression that launches and aircraft were let off to a certain extent in this respect? I put the blame on the present Government, although it has a commission set up to attend to profiteers. Before the last election delegate after delegate travelled to Wellington time after time to wait on the Minister to see about being paid for wet days. Yes, wo were promised it before the election. But since the Government was returned, are we getting paid for wet days? No, But before the nest election we may get it, to bo dropped after the Government has made use of our votes. Wake up, workers, and take a pull, and go for a good job yourselves, instead of the Government taking prominent Labour supporters who have already got jobs, and giving them better positions. I listened to Mr Schramm, Labour M.P., Auckland, in the debate last week, when he said if ho had his way he would put the tax on beer a little more. How is that, watersiders, from your Government member?—l am. etc., Fed tin,

August 24