LIVING IN ENGLAND.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 17, 1 March 1918, Page 4

LIVING IN ENGLAND.

v Lady Russell, wife of Major Sir AnIfcw H. Russell, general commanding the New Zealand Division in France, passed through Auckland recently. In a short chat with a “Star" representative, Lady .Russell mentioned the shortage, of food at Home. We hear of the scarcity of different articles, but only those who have lived in England at iho present time know how difficult filings now have become. Lady Russell, who was corroborated by her sister, Miss E, B. Williams, said the bread was very bad and the butter was no better, but it was very difficult to get. A sister-in-law, living at Bedford —not in London —had been unable to get any fat for nearly throe weeks, it did not matter what she paid. She had five quite young children, and had given them Sofett's emulsion to substitute for fat. The West Coast of England and Scotland did not suffer so much, as other parts of England. In Hampshire, where Lady Russell was staying before she left, it was not so bad, for there were gardens, and vegetables, and fruit to be obtained. On a week just before she left a very close relative could not buy any butter, eggs, bacon, tea, or sugar at any price. Lady Russell and her sister had bought fresh eggs at sixpence a piece, and both agreed about the price, but differed radically as to the freshness. They had to pay fourpence for eggs right in the middle of the summer. Even when staying at Falmouth in Cornwall, eggs were costing , them sixpence each. Strange as it may sound the visitors said that it was not the poor who were feeling the pinch, for they were paid good wages and food was arranged for them, but the great middle class. The rich people could procure what they wanted by paying the price, but the mass of the middle class folk were debarred.