THE COST OF LIVING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 22 June 1912, Page 6

THE COST OF LIVING.

THE VIEWS OF WOMEN

BY TMiBGBAPH—PEE"S ASSOCIATION,

AUCKLAND, June 20. Some housewives are indignant that the Government should have appointed such a Commission without one or two Jady members on the board. "What do znen know about cost of living," declared one of our leading society ladies to a Herald representative. "i3o they have to order the dinner? Do they know the prices of butter, beef, potatoes, and bread ? They might in ah offhand manner have that ordinary acquaintance with facts, but can they realise how it affects the housewife's income and menu for table and nursery?" And what do you think; of it? inquired the innterviewer of an intelligentlooking worker's wife.

"It's a shame," she declared, turning up her sleeves in a significant manner. "Here in New Zealand women have equal political rights and greater freedom of thought and action than in all other social affairs, yet they appoint a Commission of men, who would know as much about making and pricing a dinner as I do about New Zealand loans."

You think it's a woman's question? "Certainly! Men may know about coal and timber, but you can't eat timber; you can't eat coal. It is the necessaries of life that the Commission is largely dealing with, and I think we ought to have a hand in the business." "Well, give me facts," said the pressman.

Facts!" she cried. "Haven't rents doubled within the last five years. A few years ago coal cost from 15s to 18s a ton, now it's 325. Chops some years ago cost 3d a Ib.; we are paying 6d to-day. Bacon used to be 8d; now it is Is 2d Potatoes at one time cost Is for 301b.; sugar, tea, indeed, everything necessary V°J hs feeding and development of the individual has practically doubled." "Yes, but, remember/ wages have also increased."

"How much?" she asked. "Only about 30 per cent." The pressman next questioned a lady or somewhat decided views. 'It is an insult to the New Zealand woman s intelligence," she said. "Why school us Why develop our brains'? Why teach us housekeeping? In fact why bring us into a dreary world at all ir men are to enquire into a question ot which they know so little?" 'Do you think this slight on woman will have any effect at the polls, should there be an election ?"

I certainly do. Believe me, the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world, Men, of course, do not obey: they acquiesce.

"You mean that the women will order their husbands to vote against the Government P"

«. order* to ask-. There is the din-erence", yfiu see1 • and, believe "me, woman.al\V6ss gets her way." Tl^ interviewer next encountered an Hingiish lady, who represented suffragette views.

i 1^ I tnought Then I left England,, S he said, "that political and social inequality, so far as woman was concerned, was all behind me, but on landing I was amazed to see a Commission of men appointed to enquire into the cost of everything so near and dear to the housekeeper's heart." Well, suggest a remedy! ~•7 ldea is + that, seeing the Commission has practically completed its enHLI? -I s l ho ™ -°draft and submit ihl^vl- *° uld lmmediately request the addition of two well-known ladies one to represent the Labor view, as you call it out here, the other to speak fo" the other political class. Their expression of opinions would temper the judgment of the men. In this way views or the housekeeper might be well aired and suitably represented "