THE COST OF LIVING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1450, 27 May 1912, Page 4

THE COST OF LIVING.

ANOTHER COMMISSION. four weeks for the inquiry. EIGHT INVESTIGATORS. The (joveniraeut has set up a Royal Com mission to "inquire into ajid report upon certain questions relating to tho cost 01 Hying in ,\cw z<.alauu." ioliowiug are the commissioners:— Andre* J'Viirbairn, Christehurcb. I;dinn ii„!|, Auckland. v'm'i"" J f :u " l '. v ' NVukanui. . Ilia,l, u. MucUoimlil, Wcrtport. •"Hi .Ooertvjn, iJ.]» J^ VIII ■'oim He.-.-, J)unedip Order of Deference. Tho Commiisioii k ordered to inquire into the following (jUl'SlioilJi I. Has tlw cost 01 living 'increased hi Ae\» /inland during the past twenty years- Jt so, has that, increase bwu more marked durmß tho last teu than during tue previous ten years? tl. lias .tlmt increase, i) any, been moro marked in Aew Zealand than in other jingbsJi-.spea J{ jny cou n tries .To what extent is the increased cost o; liviiir, if any, the result of a higher standard oi living? , 1. In what special direction has the increase, if anv, boon most marked: (a) rent, (bj food, (c) clothing, (d) lighting fljitl liß'i, (c) household necessaries, (1) attendance, and (lj) education? •). Jo what extent have monopolies, combine, trusts, and other aj-wrciatiom oi manufacturer* or of tljo negeysaries of life contributed to tlio rij* ia prices? ti. >V)iat hns been the offset on prices of tne tarjfi reduction? . what extent, if any, has the rise lit tno pric© of bind, during tho pa*t twenty year*. contributed to the rm in tile prsco of commodities? S* what ciFect has iho demand for Nat* /eolnnd jiroducts Ijcyond the Dominion jiau oti prices of such commodities? (!. what dicct, if any, has the Labour legHlfition had on tho. iricix'asft in the prices of the commodities of life. 5 10. What influence, if anv, has the valu« of ROHMiad on the cost ot living? 11. \\ hat efTtct have the moveiuenU of the urban and rural populations had on the cost of living? 10. What have brought aljout the increased cost of living? 13. A\ hat steps should be taken with a view to reducing the cost of the necessaries of life?

{-'• W. Leadky is appointed rhsirman (n the Commission, which is einpoworoa to conduct inquiries <nt Dnnedin, uiristeliureh, Wellington, and. Auckland, to cxamino witne.v.OF, and to "call forati<l examine all such book? and record? as rou deem JiKely to afford yon the fullest."information on the subject matter of the inquiry." The report is to be sent in bj Juno 25 next. Pmonal Notes. Mr. Andrew Fairbairn is a meater of tne firm of Fairbairn and Wright, ireporieiv agents, Ohris.teluirch. Air. Eau'iii Hall has bix-n for nianT years a prominent member of the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, aiul held office as secretary for a considerable time. He has hiso been secretary to the' New Zealand Farmers' Vision. Prior to taking up farming in New Zealand. Mr. Hail practised as a chemir-t England. He has travelled and suiriiedin several countries. Mr. G. W. Lendley, the chairman of tlin Commission, is a weli-kmuvr, Canterbury farmer, and was for several years national vico-presldent of the Formers' Union. lie was prominent in the freehold campaign of a few years ago. Mr. William Gfeorge Maedonald is ia practice a* a solicitor at Westport. Mr. J, Robertson; M.P. for Oiaki, lias of Into been much in the public eye. lie has become a member of the newly-formed United Labour party. Mr. John Boss is tho senior partner o'( (ho well-known firm of Messrs. Ross and. Uleiidining. Sir. 10. Tregear is a scholar and a poet, Ho retired last year on superannuation from the position of Secretary for Labour, which lie had held from the inception ol that Department. The other day he stood as the United .Labour parly's Vandidata for a .seat on tho Wellington City Council and was elected. Mr. W, A. Veitch resigned his position as an engine-driver on tho Government railways and tho office of president ot tho Amalgamated Society of Hallway Servants in order to contest the Wantranui seat at tho last general election, and was eiiccessftsl.