Wairarapa Daily Times [Established 45 Years.] MONDAY, MAY 31, 1920. ECONOMY THE SAVIOUR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14130, 31 May 1920, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established 45 Years.] MONDAY, MAY 31, 1920. ECONOMY THE SAVIOUR.

Basic wage commissions may inquire into the cost of living, and wages may, as a result bo advanced, but, advance they never so much, wages will ne’er overreach the increased 1 cost of living till [he world is producing more, and until reserve stocks are built up. As long as production is below the demand for consumption so long will traders, from the beginning of the raw material to the retailing of the finished product, be able to charge high prices. If three men are competing for clothing sufficient to clothe two men, the man who offers the highest price will obtain first choice, no matter what the law may be. The only way to bring the price down is that the three men ■shall so arrange matters that the clothing formerly divided among the three —that is to say that clothing wiicu formerly lasted ono year shall be made to last eighteen mouths. Tho wed. todo could do much in this direction, if they would join-the “shabby oijp.Vs league/' It would be true patriotism and would prevent A lot of unrod. She women of Auckland are acting rightly in refusing to purchase highly-priced drapery. If their example were generally followed there would quickly be a substantial reduction. These opinions are reinforced by opinions expressed in tho bulletin of the National City • Bank of New York. That publication points out that the production ot cotton and woollen cloth is down all over the world, not only as the result of the war, but because of the reduction of hours of labour in the textile industry in nearly .all countries to eight hours daily. The enlargement of textile mills will eventually make up the short age, but not until new machinery is provided. The shortage of clothing which results temporarily should be voluntarily shared by all, tlio bulletin continues. Either those least able to buy must bear an undue share of the privation or everybody must accept some share of it. When a person says that he is entitled to have his pay increased to an extent that will meet the

increased cost of living, does ho mean that he wants enough to enable him to buy as much sugar and clothing as in normal times? No possible wages advances, if granted to. the whole population aliko, could get everybody as much clothing and sugar as if the supply was a full one. Scarcity should be met by economy, smaller purchases by all, and by strenuous efforts to increase production, not by a mad scramble for each to get as much as or more than, before.