NO LUXURIES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14127, 27 May 1920, Page 5

NO LUXURIES.

tfHE COST OF LIVING. •WELLINGTON WOMEN TAKE A ! STAND. A meeting of members and others interested 1 in this burning question of the cost: of-living was held at the Xioneer Club rooms, Wellington, last night. The meeting considered the club should follow up what -was being done by the women’s clubs in Auckland and Dunedin in conjunction v'ith other societies. Miss Goad, president, of the Women s National Council, explained w'liat steps the council was taking. They were attending the meeting called by the returned soldiers, and there putting forward their policy with regard to this matter. A public meeting was to be called shortly, when the council would put before the public facts as to the distribution of fish, fruit and vegetables, and would urge the necessity for markets for these commodities. The council had spent much time in ascertaining these facts, and the high puces ruling were largely due to muddle and waste She was glad to see that the Hon. W. Nosworthy was advocating the establishment of markets for the sale of fruit as a means of reducing the price to the consumer, and it was an established fact that the meat market in Auckland had steadied prices there. The council, Miss Coad added, was concentrating on foodstuffs butter, meat, fruit, fish, etc. —and on New Zealand woollen goods, and she' hoped the meeting would agree to support the council in its efforts. Mrs Corliss said she heartily supported. what the National Council was doing. She thought, however, that it would not detract from that effort if the meeting also followed wliat had been done in other centres. Their club was the pioneer in women’s clubs in New Zealand ,a*nd she thought it should not. be behind the women in Dunedin and Auckland. The effort made m Auckland had had the result that many Shops showed goods at much reduced prices, while in Dunedin the shops had announced sales almost directly after the meeting at which women had determined not to buy luxuries. Mrs Corliss pointed out how many women were wasting their energies on the subject of dress; every passing change of fashion must be followed, and this was having a most demoralising effect on young"girls. People could refrain from buying"manv things that were not essential, and they would never miss them. She urged a united spirit on the part. of. women to discourage unnecessary production, and encourage the necessary work of the world. Miss Coad then moved: “That tins meeting promises its co-operation and support to the Women’s National Council in its effort to reduce the cost ot the necessities of life” The motion was carried unanimous-

Miss Black proposed that the meetiiur support the efforts made in Dunedin and Auckland by refraining from the purchase of non-essential articles until the cost of living is appreciably reduced. The motion was carried.