COST OF LIVING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1470, 19 June 1912, Page 3

COST OF LIVING.

INTERESTING COMPAHISONS

REMISSION Of- DUTIES

DO THEY REACH THE CONSUMETi? WAGES AND in!.if.CKis. ffij Tiilccraßli.-PiFS« ij.weli'flftto ChristcKu'rch') i.nnc-. IS, When the Cost ot Livtii". (IsiiiiiiVisHoiv resumed this niorniii? M.ri '!'< B. 'Jt'i;lwi~ sliaiv, accountant to Me..-srs, A:ulM ! b.rpok and Co., stated an a.SsOti;i.iioii ■pxisfee!' amongst biscuit manufacturers '" fov Hot Huating non-payable prices..

ill-. F. L. G. .lolly, baiifc elp.rfc, statsd: that ho had drawn up infoiiiijiitiqh on: the question whether thoVi.nc.Kiise, ; iii .this cost of living had been .niflt; by ;i'tft.rcased wages. For that purpbSp, lip. ■hitd plot-'; tod out a table based onyinfoiiiKiti.o.ii. , pb-; lained from the .New Zeal.ancji.'Sjtw'istj'pjii Year Book covering theiperi.bd fj-gin.JSR6 [ to 1910, botli.incluaive. The. information, , related to farm labourers;., lyriciivisjaKfrs,' carpenters, general labourer?, 'siijitlis,. painters, shoe-makers, iinjn.ers , , tailors, dressmakers, drap;ers'.. assii"taii.f>, butchers, linkers, and co'nipp.si.fpr.s;. \V\t* ness added that the RtSjstieaf Infprnva*: tion obtainable was not "fohjp'lete. .i.ii , certain essentials. Tlie index number f.qr IS9G he called 100. lit' lS.il?" tliti' iiulex'. number was 101.6; 1901, life?; 190 i, UO./J; 1901, 111.9; 190", 121.4; .19p8; : il22il!|.l!i!|K,' 124; 1910, 124.5. Ho bad; cbmput!ed ; index.! indicating the pjirchasinu: ppjror ■ of wastes which were as follbjv:?- : <i8P.D; : 99;5;. , 1900,'105.8; 1902, 106; -fg.Q-1; Wdi litil'i ■ 108.9; 190S, 112.8; 1909, 1310 ;j 116.' This showed that (he piitchasii'igiiiowoV of' wages was much les.- than- the. increase in wages, that wages lagged l (behind , ■pfi.epS,. and that increase in ■prices 1 :: ■preewfed :! increases in wage.--. Ne>.- ; prices, did ]iot yet correspond :tp. t.h't; pr'iffs of the world. World price's w.er'e. kiiijiro.ach-' ing the crest and they jyoiiltl .Sep..«' drop.' in prices. Waxes a little, .fjir-. ther yet and fall again;- .witli. t.J.ie- Frtl.l 'of. prices. The amount of dejibsijs. was ap-. proaching the amount 'Oi' : ;a:d.j;a)Vceo,: aiifl'. as soon as the one erjiial.lcd the ;6ther! thp. rates of interest would nvci'.eascy.w.hioh: pfiinted to the probability.vb'i! a -tall' V 1 prices oi commodities in'w.hicli'-.eye.n.t the' purchasing power of wages would; jnpre'nfcj Though the purchasing.'power .o't' w.ogp'S' had steadily increased w.it'h.'sli»iit fluct'ti; ation.s reports showed .r.tlvaj; the syag(v earners complained as bi.tttfiily. a : s; ever; of.' their inability to meet/exjieriscsi; Tfee.' was only one logical dediic.tipiij Jifiid...tliat was that the standard ti)f liwh'gf/hiid,; irt: creased. "Witness stated' 'that, lie,' had. taken Dr. Jl'llwraith's .ijWex;:iijjmb:ers.regarding the prices of ppnimoiijiies. The; increased cost of living: in .N<}V Zitflrtnd: had been less than in aiiy' other tomitry:. During the past ten yeaiv.s. -the in tlje United States had risen , .: 32 per;'pent, in" Canada 25 per cent. Uiiijp.il' ; ivingdpm, ; JS per cent, and New Zeala'ivd .in 19.10 it was 3 per cent. ■ ■ . ; ■

Duties and .prices, Mr. Arthur W. Jamtespii,. ■:!i.:.n'niigdp. pf tho Farmers' Co-operative '■Vs^ciatipi'!,' made a. lengthy staleme'nt:; ; iri; tho coijrsfe , . of which he said: "Bep.epted.'sfiitejnQii.i's' Imvo boen made that tlie. Jr.pm'issioii pi: duties did not reach tjic'.:cpnsujncr : i..b.iit remained in the pxehp'rjiier , / bf-"jliq- riiet-' chant and large of': Xcnve , * food and mustarii/ Irajh Hiioiti had for years been fold';'^ , a : pf'b'fir. ..le.s! tho cost of doing fhe'".busiiieJS; AYlirii ■ the duty was was taken of putting both, lines''upoiv -a,-' , more oriual basis, and j.t ,is.,reiisphabje lo say that had the dtitv $pjj.lmoii AromoXe'li:the .selling price woiildklwfpre. : ;l.oiVg: :'ia.vc' ; b?en adjusted sr .as ;l'd,.;lrave. 'ii iiyi'ii , ?:' profit. Hut about Iho sameKtinte-'tlfc diitvf v,-iif removed from >>aye:s,.E'6'od;a'i].d'iri..iii> ■ lard, it was also reniov«?,d' : ;frpni. ffiu'&j'gar*. rice, lcerosonc, prunes, and figs, and '{]ie !: .biypfit-:o? ■ijifv reduced duty in these';linesV.w«s .passed.: on td tho consumer. ■.■Tlw.pi'ild ,1 'n'sk y,bii ■ to bear with mo for in'.- nypniontioii 'fhe , .-' relation of the two fi.r ; sf:. ! linVs..;.!to. Ihßse'■ just quoted. The averngp.-')fo'iiiieiioldef:-rc-.' quire; about ,£!l '7s. wiiiitk pfi ; ti?.a;^i3;Sir; : rice; etc., to about 3s. wprj lv'of. Food and mustard, and. .as "J;- pointed 'oiits;'therfl is a fair <ind les!H.ijiaTfi : Vei(spn : f,pr": retaining part, of the.v.du|.v pp. .tM two.' lines named. 'Therefore,-. : th'e: p/iiljije co_r-. tainly receive<l fair 4re.ii.frn,ciit jn / tjiefmatter of the [Customs■ iiujy'i-■ In comparing the retailing..'p'liij.fr .of siilV. tanas, currants, etc.. cf.ltp-.day with past ■; years, it must be bfvjuie. : .i..ii.' niiind tliat the lirst cost in the pro'ducinff .cpujUrio's' has increased $}! courss prices fluctuate y.pry.'quickjy.. ".TJ.cai.--. inp_ with the q uestion '■ioJ't.H'Fj-sifiVtlj : '=?Psf: s pf living as affecting tlip.^riajor'ity.. bf ili,b' most staple hnnFeholdi'line?,."'!' haye. care's fully gone through the: price "lists, pulj-' lished by my associations/full , '/cir.ciilat'nit]., among all sharehol(lorsy'fr.pni' : .lß!fV iip tp 1911-and I do not think?it;is;possil)fe ip x?,t more reliable daia';.thiiVi'.. epii-' firm the statements ■iho necessaries of life in , .:t.}>is..;jjarticiilar 'ile,--partment arp cniicerns : d;.. they , : "have , notincreased. The list. n'iai;lsfil/.V,',gi.y-r ; s..the various lines which ''.have; remaiiieil.. at par or decreaspd, wljick :a,ue: a> Tollbv.?, prices covering ths nec'esiaVib;' : ijf life frpiu 1804 to 1911:— "■■ ' :' '"' . "

List '%'*■ '. :' ' . Teas— 1891. 1000 i..' 1005, . 1910..., Pure "■ . ■ Ceylon 1/8-2/- l/ftfJlQ 1/G47.JQ V/W'B ,, . Blended 1/2-1/8 ijiiifs- 'i/'d s l/e' l/O-l/G 189(. 19001 190.;.. lOll' '191.1, d. -j\y.'. 4,- jl'.. . d, Sugar 2J 2i JV »l 21 Pearl barley 2J- i* .2,',- 2 ,2i Goinflpur ... 3J 31- a' ■ -3. 3. Candles (Xafna.l) "1 S'.. . f..V r, 7 (Wax) 7 7; ■(('.. ft ■« Figs 7 ff *'S ' :#t * ! o Dates 6/- (i '& X 3 : Prunes 10 10. l> 5.. 7; ; Raisins .i 6' ,'. '.6 "> '0 ; Matches ... 5 $■■ * ' •> '■>: Pickles 9 ' 0-_, ' '9. ■ J! ' flVinegar .... 6 li li- ■ :S & Biscuits—Nc alteratioWj Cheese—Prices (vary) accpr.dihg tb inarket. ■.. Hpney f *.' '..5 41 ; 4.V Jam 5 f>i . 5 . <' ..-?■ Salt 4/6 4fft ■ 3;H ,4]?. 416 Pepper 1/1 lS 'f >. W IP ■ Kerpsene ...11/6 10/fi. m. Si- ■ Infants'food 11 11 11 U H. Condensed milkEnglish ... 8 8: ' — — — Colonial - - 6 6 6,. : Kippered ■. ■ '". . Herrings 11 lo>' 8- .6 8 , Starch — ■ Colman'3 2/3 2;3'' '. 2;3" S/S '2 3 ;,■ Mustard... 1/7 Iff' IP " 1/ ; S l : /6 ■ Cream of .. . ' Tartar ...1/4 lj§ 1/4' I>'l W. , Carbonate of . ~ : Soda ... 4,'- .' V~. it- ' -l\ ' Borai 8 B'"' ' & * . * B'k'g Powd'r 11 11 1:1 I}' JJ Arr'wroot... 5 ?>.■ ... 5. : 3 o I Coffee 1/3-1/6 l/5-l'/6 : 1/54/6.' 3/4,-1,6 Cpcoa— . . , , „,„ :: V. H'ten's 8/3 Sβ 3/3 3/3 3/3 Washing d Soda (71b.) — *- 6 6 6 Vermicelli and Jlacaroni 6 ~'6. .' ,6 5 p . "Passing on to schedule J3,. giy.ing jhplines whicli have increased diiriiij; the P.ei'* iods quoted, you -will:Trntl-w-:.invest jgatiliß.'that thero is a the cost, and, as in tlio :in.iitti?c of liiiftey,, cheese, etc., it is |Jio.. primary ,n'Tqdt!P|S which have increaseil'.-.-iiv ■y.aj.iuv therpliy.'. enormously increasing, ilJii.i is particularly notipe.h.ljl'n'- in -:ric<v. m'Bp. and tajiiocn. In l9lo.*iidi!!li the jyice (it colonial soup has increai-cd, liniiiily. u'ne to the highw price:-ioiv'tiiilp*', ami- -a.l-:<>, as 1 understand, a-sViifiU i'iicri-ast .in. wages.. ■■■.'. . .. "l'ricos covering 'thy ij:op«. ] =riil.vios i , Hi' W from ISM to 1911—:;.-.,

18'J1; i'.lUfl. -lttti!). ?!!10. lil'l'l- " P>ft II 1$ (IS ft ii «W Sago 0 li""- 0 -Jl (12 I'-.' ll'-'ii Tapioca ' 0 ••$■ -ft' Si ', () J 0 ? » $ Currants ... 0 1 .V: ; t iii. I! H 1.1-- *• Sultanas, <isi ■-■<!:*■s■ •>■ *? <'<!$. V ' Sheep tongues 0 If tr.tt 1.0 -J-fl , ; ' ( ! Cocoa (Fry's) 1 i, : "■ 1 3 i I 1 ii 1 'li Tobacco .' , . 1 . (jaifj 5 I)' 58''5353 i> o j Tieplyin? to Mr. Jjkirliiittn, tfi , t.(icj*..sint;j e<! that the a«so<:iai.ip.it ivaf? ;>■ :ii(ombe- fli ; J thi< Kctail Orocovi'-ifeiibciiVtibiis nJliifeii nipt.. to fix price-, but t.fer •&*$ jjfitiiins. bfini-; in:. H;s whi|lil,nat b> ii fea.i:lj- ( to'Sxing profit?*ii. sfi'lfftnJiiier/tf to, boycoliiii" d\il -.iiot ■ ?«11, at: tbi: pric.ek (i\eil l>y- ,, ft« Ji.«.nq?.ti l !iK: , TJi'ljwls fit tWpav'mtat.y,:tia,;d.J>«i! ntidwer! >, Jittie more Utituda ,; iSsssi.faiji:)afthen, .cut;..

iiiul- UpuM iitsthictejl flia't liotlii.nj w.iys to bi'ni-i-hngpii ili.fit; i.u any ivay aHitreil t.lic ■■[wl'ic.v vl'Hip ii.^ocijitidi'i.

Ti> Jl'i:. LoadJcy; ■J:'!ie'f i .Snt'UU : i(i.!) (fid lint ■Jietftto in. "iMittiii;;" fePdc'cify.. -jHIiWS. lit , - fcblisViitl , ttvat iho- cuil'ing i.i.Viiiiijjest i.il li,v ■hi-rj ■wi.l'iyes.'jKs who iiail. s>l wii c*jiioi)co fri;s, .•it iliu t-imc- il. i.vvi.i. 1 ritiVi-l.yeiJ in. Hijiftfeil ■lw lire besi i:nt(;!-e&ts ui" tJ'i.o traded

>Tel«. (iipi)., T, ijlfirttl, fii.ut y.siiiicS- :lvcir save pvicf-hco. .rcinviVin;; pvicc? c'!' agijcitili.rirni iliMilpn.)*'!!*," i\ : r. v>:. X, X.i!.l : , •<ii\i< tiviJc'ncp rciyurd-iiiy: land values. ' v F-urn.jture. and Electricity. .\tr. Ajiflrosi' Maiutin, fiiTiiitn.i'o, Salfsinaj!, sfiittil tliai livers \vnji iiu ■■p«ryCl«lfft.lW(i (iin'.'M'Mito. , iit llie jiritq of iiinn.U.iii'e. -us eoiiijiivj:cil ivilTi ij) .Vt-a-rij SIK«. His. Finn Vlid .iiiil. ciH'fMiiiaw tiib ti"iiic-|);)V.i)ion(;. f.v?-- ■( c.tii.. ft ;i wiintfil Ml ivyriji «f ■f.Virniljir.o li;e' was luk-wl to p;a;y Qiitt-llfi-wj iii c-nvli anif a.t'tlit*.nattf- =<rf' jt'.i i>ev, liiflssn.). if.iid in.'tcrcft a't 5 i:cr -ceiiK

Jlr. }; -0, !M;ntl ; i Elly Kloc'tVica'f Engi'n:o.e.v, itiitccl thnii l.iih \nkv .of c'.oclricity in Chriachvrch ttits-Tiftlitinft Gsl to fljjl.-ti-pr unit,, iinil liowcr , ,3d..tri 21 poj unit. 'J'liosa \i-lio : i:so<] tlio .spiallos: fiiiaiit-iiy bail to jiiiy tlt<!. liiglfcr .price, 'j'lip. pft'y.ct of ' the 1 ]Caf:e .Colendiie ' fc.horac- von.lil bo a eonsifleynjik? fpcluctioii j : n .(ho price of :plc:cfvicitj-,. Ijiit His matter wa? licit al.te-. i.gethei- .sSttlecl yci.

Advertising.. i[r. P. &. l?iiyH't( adver'.Hsiiig clerk :pf ilia- "I/yt-te-Ifoi; I'ijiieis" ststtd that tire r.a.te o'.f a.dvfr.t ; i~ii\g was ss; .pefr inch. T]vis pVJCO liad remained thp. salivo (luring the, ■pifej; :15 y.qjirsv He iinderiibbd tlmt rales in- somo"i>!aci?.s vera higher and inpthors t.hoy were, j.oivr*.

'The chairniain ]fi tli : *re aiiy uhderstaiVding '.bcfweci'i tfie Ofiristthiit'c.h jief-iv-s----])aj)_er,s as lo Ihe iic!,\-<?vt jsin<f ililpsf " AVitjJtSs: Am I obtigeit to answer that, ■qiicsjlifitj. ' the ehairniaiii; Toil iieed n'Q'fc b.d forced . fc. an<w«r it.

AVitnffc-.: Therp ,is no umlerstanding' as far -a* % know, The Kites ar.o flit Sitni.e,. I believe, but I cannot say if 'this feis fa'lked piifc .'uobv.ee'n the prbprfttors , . 1. ■a:in :no.i; siiffidpuity .ill tlieir confidence So ■kiiow that

.Do you '.fciiow of- ajiy liudcrstasicViiig b.ehreeii." the nev.-s'i)apj'r:>- by w'liicTi the. anipiinf ''of reading, liia.ttcr is ■doiv't- know pi aiiy sjic.li aTi-ongc.in'ei.i't, Witness .tfqiii on. to st.afo' that tluwiglv.mifc the Doihiiri'oii: .aiic'ji'oneo.i'-i w«i;o ollp.w.etl .a rcb.Ut'e of 2J por cent, on -theit advertisements.

'Sir. ft.'. B\ Sel.s'on., in charge of th.e ad-: vri'tiyn? d'epiirtnient p£ : -tli.fs ''Tro.ss 1 " Co.iir.piTiiy, stilled that Hie oi'diiutry rif.tev li'.r aiH'et-ffeiiiS os. }«* jnclii /This Vfl'te , was .loir :e<ihip.a , :e.(f with other t.Ciiwi.'s. .lit' tf.as not in the cSuiidfiicS, of tlie , epii!'pany." 'but iio an Wea flmt'th?. );ate Uharjeil by bplb daily :rie\v'spape"r's ii! tlic icity \veje : th<-!: sanie, TbiS ;sos .j.ii o;;dor ,to hay.& ft Stanibird rstte-, 'Douiile rales were when :■■ .ciiSt.o.nier Specially :pjdereil tlvfit his aclvcrtiseiiient',sli.bul.il onp?.n.r oii -t'h.c Jrp'n'i; page; There: had tee.ii dflilv , .i, geiieral. iiicr-easo. in, f.he c.antract ■tariff. , rates'as the eivcuiAfion w'e'n.t ii.n. ■Tlievj. liad -Ije'sji- vS.vy I'i't.fle in.crcnSo in : (h.t'.fe, rate diirtnsi the. :pys:t sevctv ye;a'i.-S. At p.'SO' prfiis th% coiniiiisMOn ndjoiirned (■« AuckU'.hd-, where sittings, pp.e.iv pii Thursday .a.fte.rn&pm