1 DECEMBER 1979, Page 20

The years condemn

Sir: Geoffrey Wheatcroft's lament about the price of wine ('Claret crisis', 17 November) is a futile exercise without comparable pay figures. It is no use saying Ch. Lafite cost x in 1930 and now it costs 20x and good gracious what a scandal — Without also saying 1 earned x in 1930 and now I get 20x (or possibly more?). I don't know Mr Wheatcroft's age but this is a trap into which the elderly usually fall. 'My word', they muse, 'I used to buy a pair of shoes for three bob. Nowadays it's more like thirty pounds.' Always remember to ask them what they earned then and they would just as proudly tell you: 'Three bob a week.'

Andre liossouw 48 Cheniston Gardens, London we