[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—If you will pardon
my tardy contribution, possibly some of your readers would be interested in some figures based on the budget of one whose income approximates to that of Mr. Horsfall-Ertz's cousin, whose budget he quotes in your issue of the 28th ult.
. Taking my own figure as soo in every case, the German prices would be as follows : Bearing in mind that the Tunbridge Wells area is not by any means one of the cheap area to live in, your readers will observe that living is at least 50 per cent. more expensive in Germany; on my figure: son percent. would be nearer the mirk. It is when we come to consider the actual constitution of the food budget that the real 'position conies to light. According to figures given by Sir John Orr, the diet of Mr. HOrifall-Ertz'e cousin and his 'family is deficient in every single item except carbohydrates, and very deficient indeed in all the protective foods.
It may indeed be true that he is living "comfortably and happily and that he owns and runs a motor cycle," but your readers should remember that he belongs to the better off classes, the average wage of a German worker being 120 RM. per month and not 200 RM. One can only assume that the average German worker is being starved.--and not very slowly
Rent .. Fuel .. Electricity Gas .. Bread
.. too (I have a. house with garage and garden) zoo (coal ; wood of course is cheaper)
200 (lighting rate) ..230
230 Butter • • 265 Margarin: • •
222
Cheese • • 130 Eggs .. • . 180 Potatoes • • 103 Meat.. • • 130 Sugar • • 24o 93
Jam .... 285 (based On home-made price)
at that.—Yours faithfully, • W. Duitax. White House, Crendon Park, Seidl:borough.
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