HARD LIVING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22281, 17 March 1947, Page 2

HARD LIVING

WINTER AND CUTS ENGLISH COMPLAINTS LETTERS TO FRIENDS The hard conditions under which people in the Homeland are living are giving rise to comments in letters received in Gisborne and a poor view is being taken over the manner in which the British Government is handling the administration of the country. The winter has been a hard one, and that fact seems to be generally admitted. “T hate reading the paper as rations are always being cut down,” states one writer. “To-day beer is to he cut and maybe the bread ration. Of course, it may only be scare-mongers at work, but as far as I can see this Labour Government will cut its own throat for. really, it has fulfilled so very few of its election promises.

"We seem to be in a worse mess than ever. The Government; is trying to nationalise everything and everybody; in one voice it advocates a five-day working week and in another we must all work harder or starve. So what is one to think or do? I know we have to export all wc can to live, but I do think it would keep up the morale of the people if they were permitted to buy a little more for their homes.

“We are beginning to look shabby because we have had no replacements for seven years. One used to endeavour to buy something fresh every year. I feel so sorry for the newly-weds as it is such a poor start for them.” Another letter, dated February 15, stated: “I do not ever remember so much snow and bitter cold. It has just gone on week after week freezing all day and night without a break and now to have the gas and electrify cut makes things harder. One wonders what is going to be the end of it all. We feel that a lot of trouble is through our Labour Government, but still members become elected as vacancies occur.

“All this week women have queued for potatoes in this bitter weather and very often get none because of the bad condition of the roads through snow and ice affecting transport.’’