CRUSADE AGAINST HIGH PRICES.

Western Star, 26 March 1920, Page 4

CRUSADE AGAINST HIGH PRICES.

As a set-off to the extremely high prices ruling for all classes of goods, women are banding themselves together in all parts of the world, and, if report is true, they arc meeting with considerable success. In Sycltaey the Housewives’ Association, which is pressing for the institution o'f 'municipal markets for the sal© of fruit and vegetables, lately resolved to include all classes of goods, even clothing, in its crusade against high prices, being stirred to take this step by the statement of one member that good quality Japanese silk, which could he bought before the war for Is 3d per yard, now costs 7s Hd. The meeting appears to have decided instantly to teach the Japanese that profiteering was not to bo encouraged. From America come reports of four million women representing ten thousand organisations, being organised by the Savings Division of the Treasury Department to fight against the. high cost of living,” “Beginning January 1, and extending to April i, a great thrift campaign will be conducted in an effort to induce women to keep strict accounts of their expenditure in order by study of it to eliminate unnecessary items. According to the plan, amounts saved by this means will be invested in Government" securities.” The Christchurch Press, commenting on this mat Ur. , ays :—“What will happen after April 1 is left to the imagination. One can only hope the temptations of the shops may not prove too great for the, savings from three months’ economies.” Certainly women can, *if they unite, exercise an influence? on, the price of many lines of goods, and in any case the present is a good time in which to practise “doing without.”