COST OF LIVING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17263, 2 September 1916, Page 14

COST OF LIVING.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —AVitli your permission I will deal briefly with your correspondent’s letter “Cosmopolitan,” on this subject. As regards my advocacy of an export tax on butter, that was only an illustration of what could be done, and I certainly would not stop at butter. I would be the last man in New Zealand to begrudge to the farmer a fair and payable price for his products, but it must be evident to most of your readers that the high price of food products of New Zealand are brought about by the fact that Britain is at war, and regardless of that fact the merchant class of New Zealand are practically skinning Britain, biting the liand that protects them. I can remember,, and it is not so many years ago, when the farmers got 9d per lb for their butter fat and they thought thon that it was too good to last. I would point out to your correspondent that the most of our troubles in New Zealand caused by increasing prices (of local products) * could have been avoided if we had had a National Government worthy of the name. (I believe in a National Government, all the time, Mr Editor). They would have taken over nil the food products of New Zealand and given the producers a fair price for Jbeir products and after satisfying the wants of the people of New Zealand lot Britain have the balance. I ask your correspondent if this is not fair and reasonable? As regards his other matter re increased prices through the recently floated AVar Loan, because of an inflated currency, I am not going to enter into a discussion of the price of gold currency, etc. But lam almost sure there will not bo much of the recently floated AVar Loan circulated in New Zealand. A part certainly will ho spent in New Zealand, and also, and rightly also, tljc interest will be retained and spent in New Zealand. But as far ns my knowledge of finance goes I imagine the greater part of the New Zealand AVar Loan will be a credit at London in favour of tlio Government of New Zealand, i.e., the State.—l am, etc.,.

JNO. BARLOAY