COST OF LIVING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2731, 28 March 1916, Page 2

COST OF LIVING

INCREASE IN WAR PERIOD

TOTAL OF 16 PER CENT.

COMPARISON WITH-AUSTRALIA,

There has been a great deal of (liscussion lately regarding the increase in the cost of living during the period of the war. Referring to the question in Auckland, the Prime Minister remarked (according to the "Herald") that, a'-, though the cost of living in New Zealand had certainly -increased, as tbo head of every household knew from practical experience, conditions in New Zealand were not nearly so serious as in Australia. ' . AYitb a view to defining the position clearly, the Prime Minister has obtained from Mr. J. AA r . Butcher, chief compiler of Hie census and Statistics Office, a return showing the increa.se in the cost of living and the fall in the purchasing power of the sovereign. In the return, tlio relativo prices of commodities in the year 1913 and in the September quarter of last year are'compared, ami the increase per cent, is given. The fall in the purchasing power of the sovereign during the period is shown in tho last two columns, the first, showing the actual depreciation, and the second the fall on a percentage basis. The return is as follows — Relative- prices. Depreciation. Third In- of sov. Year, qu'ter, creaee Mone--1913. 1916. per tary. 0. i. s. d. cent. s. <i. o.c. Sydney ... 22 8 JO 0 32.35 4101 24.44 Melbourne 20 6 31 8 54.47 704 35.25 Brifhona ... 2110 29 0. 39.20 5 7* 28.16 Adelaide ... 22 S 32 0 48.75 6 0 29.9-5 Perth .;.... 25 4 3010 22.04 37J 18.06 Hobart .... 23 3 31 1 32.62 411 24.59 Average ... 2111 31 1 . 41.83 5104 29.49 Aiwltland 21 24 1J 12.96 2.U 11.48 Wellington 21 9$ 24 6 12.54 2 2} 11.14 Cflristalmrch 19 10? 23 4? 17.59 3 0 , 14.96 Dunedin ... 19 11} 23 5s 17.66 3 0 ' 15.01 Aver. (4 centres) 20 9 23 10J 15.06 2 7j 13.09 Dominion aver. (25 centres) ... 20 9 24 0J 16X0 2 9 13.77 The figures for the Australian cities aro comparable with one another, as are thoso for the New Zealand cities. As between Australia and New Zealand, only the last three columns are strictly comparable. A comparison between the averages for the Commonwealth and the Dominion shows that, -while the cost of 'iving in tho six- Australian capital.cities has increased by 41.83 per cent., and the values of the sovereign has fallen by ss. lfl?d., the position in New Zealand is that the increase in prices has been only 16 per cent..and the depreciation of the sovereign 2s. 9d.