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Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 19, 6 January 1920, Page 5

In a letter from London to a gentleman in Balclutha, Sir Thomas Mackenzie says:—“As you kno 'V we have successfully passed through a great crisis, caused by the railway strike. It in part arose through the poor conditions which prevailed for so manv years in the railway- service, and the fear of some that wages might be reduced. Profiteering also must have had an enormous influence upon the minds of the railwaymen. One wonders how men with families can live on what is called the maximum wage. Eggs to-dav are 51d each, and other foods priced in proportion. As for clothes it seems that the place is fairly mid Mv Jfiife went the other day to buv a Wantle. and the lowestpriced one in the shop was £loo, which she would not look at. ror mv own part I had put off buying clothes for a long time, but recently was obliged to buy two suits, one at U guineas and one at 18 guineas, and four guineas for an extra pair of trousers. I have just ordered a dozen cotton shirts at 25/’- each, sna for lining the shoulder in a coat £4 10- was charged. One wonders whether, if prices continue so high, the country will ever again be able to attain to commercial and manufacturing prominence. If do not go down, countries like Ne* Zealand will be afforded the opportunity for developing industries for which thev have the raw material; indeed, the cost of living and conditions there are far better than in the Older Lands.”