WAR AGAINST LUXURY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16034, 28 September 1915, Page 8

WAR AGAINST LUXURY.

WOMEN'S ECONOMY LEAGUE.

MOVEMENT IN BRITAIN.

Thb leaders of the British social world have declared war on luxury. Realising the importance of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's words :—" In our present circumstances extravagance is a crime and economy— evenbecomes the biggest of national virtues," they are banding themselves together into an antiluxury league, with the title of the Women's War Economy League. The league's objects are as follows — (1) To reduce in every possible way expenditure on imported goods and strictly to limit the purchase of everything that comes under the category of luxuries. (2) To buy as few luxurious articles of clothing as possible. To resist all efforts to introduce new fashions. (3) To avoid as far as possible the use of automobiles, except for necessary or charitable purposes. (4) To give up all unnecessary entertaining, both at home and in restaurants, and to restrict the consumption of meals at home to the lowest possible limits. (5) In no case to employ men servants unless ineligible for public services. (6) To use influence to inculcate economy among friends and dependants.

These are the pledges taken by the following among scores of well-known persons Duchess of Beaufort, Duchess of Sutherland, Marchioness of Ripon, Marchioness of Tullibardine, Countess of Yarborough, Countess of Pembroke, Countess of Mar and Kellie, Viscountess Ridley, Cornelia Lady Wimborne, Lady de Ramsay, Lady Islington, Honorable Mrs. George Keppel, and Honourable Mrs.' Cyril Ward. They wear a special antiluxury badge.

Juliet Lady Duff states that she. herself is avoiding all luxuries. " I am tabooing new fashions and dressing simply," she said. Expensive evening and ball dTesses aTe not indispensable at present. lam entertaining less, too. I invite only my most intimate friends to luncfieon or dinnernever more than one or two. Taxicabs I seldom nse, and, apart from the question of economising by motor omnibus, young taxicab drivers should not be encouraged to remain at home." Asked if the campaign against luxuries would result in throwing large numbers of people out of employment, Mr. H. E. Morgan, of the Parliamentary War Savings Committee, said :—" The making of luxuries for export was altogether desirable, but for home consumption it was an evil."