LETTER FROM LONDON.

Western Star, 26 February 1918, Page 2

LETTER FROM LONDON.

Last Tuesday’s issue of the ‘Bluff Press’ contained an interesting letter from Mrs S. A. Moody, a Bluff lady, who gives her imprasion .of tilings domestic in London under, war conditions. We make the following extracts. — Sir, —I know lots of my friends wonder how I live,' and not a few think I may not be able to get enough' to eat. I certainly manage to do that all right,, although food is a, terrible price. Perhaps your readers might like to have a reliable list of pricey; so I have got the latest. Tea and butter are as hard to get as gold: tea 4s, butter 2/6. Every -where you go you see long queues controlled by police, waiting for these commodities. Sugar 6|d to 7d, condensed milk Is a tin (some shopkeepers are charging Is 1-kl), durrants and sultanas Is 8d a; lb, raisins Is 6d, milk 8d quart; bread licit a 41b loaf (we are only allowed Mb bread! a day), 00 d (wholesale) Is 6d lb, herrings 4d to 6d (used to be two for 14d), cooked ham 4s 6d lb, pressed beef 3s, bacon 2s lOd, sausages Is 2d to Is 9d, beef Is 9d, rump steak 2s 2d, stewing steak Is Bd, leg mutton Is Bd, neck Is 7d, fowls (small) trussed 4s each, rabbit)s 2s (id,, (have seen them marked at 2s 9cl). Eggs just now axe 6d each for fresh ones; doubtful ones, from 3id. Some of the fruit is much the same as at Invercargill. Bananas and peaches are dear, the former 3d each, the latter I have iseeu at 2s 9d each, and 1 have paid 6d each; have nob seen any cheaper than that.

I had a little/joke over the peaches when I first -went to 1 Lcmclon. Seeing some beauties in a window, I went in A } and asked the price, and was told 2(s 9d each. Needless to say, I did not buy any. Clothing is going up by leaps and bounds. The Government are buying up all the wool; so, when a shop gets sold out, it. cannot, replenish. Boots are also getting dearer; it. is nothing i

to see them, marked 30s or 40s. A law lias, just come in that no boots are to be higher than 8 inches. At last wisdom is coming out; for a great many of the boots worn here are long enough in the legs to make several pairs of shoe* 3 .