THE COST OF LIVING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 933, 28 September 1910, Page 4

THE COST OF LIVING.

. ,-■ .IS IT-:SO HIGH AFTBE: ALL?-,:.:. '.The cost 'of living,' in ".its'- relation to wages, was touched ■; upon during a dis"- • cussion at the meeting- of the' Industrial:, Association.last night. '."•'. ":;-."- \\: !•;':".;. : The president (Mr. E. Bull) .said thai" when '_ unions asked the; Arbitration Court for higher wages their .usual cry was.that : the. cost 1 of the" necessaries.of. bfe had in- : creasetL Yet,, a gentleman :in business ; herehad shown him , his. cost : . books, go-. ing back for 50;, years,, and had assured - : , him that the cost of necessaries' was very muoh less to-day than'it ever was before in this city.. If there was-an increase in the cost of living, it was'due to the 1 fact that-the workers' went in for more luxuries than they, used to.. If any of those present had to go before the Arbitration Court, the gentleman to whom he '■■ had referred -would show,him' the'■;books . and give hiin "figures'to. quote. .', '-'■'..-,"■''. .Mr.. D. Eobertson: "It:seems as ;if. ity doesn't, matter'.what figures: 7 we. give the' Court.;- :.::.'■'.":'-.",;-.' ■ t -'-.'.'■■■;"'...'.: Mr. J. Smith said: that he-found on m»/ recent.extended ..tour, lie learnt :by .ex--perience- that one could.get -better, and," cheaper food in Wellington than in Aihe-v rica, or any:other; country'that he visited.'' Mr. Palliser would"b.e'ar:him.Out in'that. ■ Mr.- C. : Palliser.: Yes," V can;> :■'.:: "ir'"