COST OF LIVING

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2181, 20 June 1914, Page 6

COST OF LIVING

» CONFERENCE NEXT WEEK. i Much- interest has been' aroused in Labour circles by the Cost of Living Conference, convened "by the Trades Council, to be held in*tho Trades Hall on Thursday night next. It is expected ( that,almost all !the Wellington.unions will send delegates. Credentials have so far.been received by the secretary of tho Trades Council iMr. L. M. A. Rearden) from tho following unions:— Painters', Plumbers', Plasterers' Stonemasons', Bakers', Engine-drivers' Drapers', Bricklayers', Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants', Tailors', Bookbinders', Shearers', Jewellers', Drivers', Coachworkers', Electrical Workers', Hotel Workers', Match Factory Workers', General Labourers', Freezing Workers', Grocers', Tramway Employees', and Storetnens'. Tho president of the Trades Council (Mr. J. J. M'Kcnzie) will preside, and tho Trades Council officials will deliver a •summary'of tho findings of the Cost of Living Commission. That Commission assembled during May, 1912, and handed in its report in August of the same year. The conference next week will have many matters, to deal with, for somo of the subjects reported on by the Commissioners were population movements between town and country, immigration, price of land, standard of living, gold supply and currency question, foreign demand for New Zealand products, and trade "rings," "trusts," and monopolies. It is quite likely that the Trades Council Conference will extend over several nights, and the assembled delegates will he asked to consider the' best steps to bo taken to place tho different matters prominently beforo tho public, and beforo Parliament. , A deputatioh-'will probably wait on the Prime Minister a few days after Parliament assembles. ' • The house-rent question in Wellington will form a topic of discussion, and for purposes of comparison a return has been 'secured from the Labour Department showing the rents in the four centres. It is as follows:—Four rooms: Auckland,' 103. to 155.; Wellington, 16s. to 203. f ; Christehurch. Bs. to 155.; Dunedin, 10s. to 13s. Five rooms: Auckland, 12s. to 205.: Wellington, 20s. to 255.; Ohristchuroh, 10s. to 18s.; Divnedin, 12s. (id. to 20s. Six rooms: Auckland, 18s. to 275. Gd.; Wellington, 2-lfi. to 305.; Cliristehnrclt, 12s. to 225. fid.; Dunedin, 17s. Gd. to 255. Seven rooms: Auckland, 20s. to 305.; Wellington, 20s. to 355. ;• Christehurch, 15s. to 305.: Dunedin,-20s. to 30s.