A CONSUMERS' STRIKE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1737, 27 February 1874, Page 4

A CONSUMERS' STRIKE.

Iv these days of high prices it is impossible to tell what form combination may take, and it. ia interesting to watch its development as it extends from one class to another, and is even snatched up as a weapon of defence in out-of-the-way places under the pressure of emergency. It seems that at Builth. a Welsh Wateringplace, the other day, the visitors, maddened by the exorbitant charges of the local tradesmen, determined on a "strike," and accordingly convened a meeting on the public recreation ground of the place, where they discussed their greviences and decided on their plan of action. Bitter complaints were made of the high prices charged by shopkeepers andhotalkeepers, and it was ultimately resolveri that unless the charge for butter was reduced nearly 50 per cent. , and the price of ham brought down to that at which it could be obtained at Cardiff, they (the visitors) would totally abstain from the use of those articles of consumption. The meeting was then adjourned, after a committee had been formed to wait upon the tradesmen and inform them of the determination that had been arrived at. There can be little doubt that this system of "striking" against the charge of articles which have been hitherto of daily use will in a short time become common, owing to the impossibility of meeting the exorbitant demands of retail dealers. People are beginning to find out that many of what are termed "necessaries" are in fact luxuries, which can be easily dispensed with without serious discomfort or inconvenience. The style of living has of Jate years become far too extravagant among all classes of society, and the present high prices will not be without their compensation if they induce simpler habits than those which have done so much to demoralise both tradesmen and their customers. Fewer servants, fewer fires, less luxuries of every description, will become the fashion until demand and supply have reached an equilibrium, and prices are redncprf to reasonable proportions. — Pall Modi Gazette.