HOW FAR A SOVEREIGN GOES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 123, 17 July 1911, Page 8

HOW FAR A SOVEREIGN GOES.

THE PRICE OF FOOD

A. HOUSEWIFE’S EXPERIENCE

“A groat deal has boon said about tho price of food, arid what it costs to live, but so far no one lias voiced tho opinion of a person who really knows —tho housewife, M declared a charming little woman living in a modest cottage within tho “tup-penny section,” at which an Auckland “Star” reporter paid a haphazard visit the other morning, bent on getting tho only side not yet published in connection .with the dear _ food, controversy. “They tell us that tho price of actual necessaries of life has not gone up, and that we have a free breakfast table. All that I can say is that, 5 strive as we will, I cannot make a sovereign go as far now as I could make fifteen shillings a few years ago. Happy I am if there comes a week; when ray housekeeping account .fm tho week docs not oxnud 25s fm tlv bare necessaries of li'e. I - Mean shillings a week brings it to £2. l a careful housewife 1 keep an account of every week’s transactions,' and, so I can show' how the increase has gone on. Butter is a luxury, the meat hill is just awfu 1 eggs re can only have once in a while, and even in such , items as tea, milk, and bread we have to bo careful. Hero is an account of how far I can. make a sovereign go now, as compared with ten years ago, and it deals with ,absolutely essential things, and does not include coal, gas, fruit,> and. vegetables :

“Add to this the cost ox a tailormade suit for my husband once a year, the cost of clothing myself and the children, and see how much there is left out of a salary of £3 per week,” was the financial proposition with which the practical housekeeper concluded her argument.

\ 1901 1911 ) s. d. d. 141bs pot.'.toss ■ 6 1 0 12*lbs of Hour ... 1 10 1 7 Goa loaves .. 3 G 3 G Half-pound toa 10* , 10 31bs sugar 7* 8 lib mixed biscuits 5* 4 Seven quarts of milk ... 1 9 2 4 31bs rice 7* 6 Jib ch c >■. 0 ft One do>ii j. ■ gg 1 SI 1 4 i !b 1 i.‘. U-: .. 1 0 1 1 lOlbs meat ... 3 4 4 2 11b dried apricots 10 11 51bs oatmeal 8* 11 21 bs honey Hi 1 0 Jibs sago 6 1 0 11b bacon 8 11 21bs jam 8 8 20 0 23 8