THE COST OF LIVING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2584, 5 October 1915, Page 8

THE COST OF LIVING

EFFOIITS TO REDUCE IT. Further' questions regarding the cost of living were asked the Primo Minister in . Parliament yesterday. Mr. Poole (Auckland West/) asked; in view bf the unsatisfactory prices of butter, wheat, etc., what steps; were being taken to ratify the promise; of the National Government to deal with the excessive high cost of living? •Mr. Massey, in reply, said'that the' Minister of Finance had that- day given notice of a Bill dealing with the prices of foodstuffs, and that would be introduced the next day, or before the House -rose.'- 'Ho reminded the ; hon. member that wil r nin .the last three months there had been a considerable reduction in the price v of foodstuffs. Mr; Poole: : What about butter?

Mr. Massey: "I am sorry to say that butter has not been, reduced." The whole matter would be dealt' with in. the Bill, notice of which had been given by the Finance Minister. 1 . Mr. .TVebb (Grey) .drew the attention of the Prime Minister to the fact that flour had dropped £4 per ton in price, but bread' had not dropped in proportion; only, about $d. per-21b. loaf. He understood that the law gave the Food Commission power to deal with the •matter.'and lie desired to know what steps the Government were taking. / . Mr. Massey said tliat_he had been informed that the reduction was Id.'per 41b. loaf, with a further Id. in the caso of cash oyer .tho counter, where no delivery took place:; He would be glad to look into t'he question, and, if neces> sary,' communicate- with the Commission.