COST OF LIVING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 22 June 1932, Page 2

COST OF LIVING

To the Editor)

Sir, —It is to he hoped Nelson will not show its usual apathy and give up the fight against high prices. It is beyond my comprehension that certain necessities of life should he exempt from the general reduction in prices now taking place. The items particularly referred to are bread, coal and coke, gas, electricity and rates. Others, such as insurance and shipping charges, cannot he dealt with locally, hut warrant Government investigation. On examining the list it will he seen that every article excepting bread, is produced more or less by monopoly, inasmuch as its production requires too much capital to permit of free competition by private enterprise (apart from licensing restrictions, etc). Goal, which is the vase of coke, gas, and in Nelson, electricity, are produced largely at the cost of labour, which has been reduced 20 per cent, and more. Subsequent handling and manufacturing costs have also been reduced, hut still John Citizen receives no benefit.

A strongly object to the manner in which the city authorities squander my contribution to the city funds, which is made from a greatly reduced and hardearned income. Why should not Council servants bo made to help the rest of us by dropping 20 per cent, instead of 5 per cent., thus relieving rates and lowering costs generally? Their jobs arc what are commonly termed cushy” and half of them are non-ratepayers and non-con-sumers of the articles they are overpaid to produce. The case of bread seems to be one ot sheep ’profiteering, as it is peculiar to Nelson, hut if the “ring” was approached in the right manner by the right bodies perhaps something could he done —otherwise we shall have lo start a communal bakery. Come on, Nelsonians! battle for 20 per cent, reduction all round. Wo must find a now standard of living, not dream of the old one, or retain it in part.—l am, etc.,

"MOST CUT-UP.” Nelson, 22nd June.