COST OF LIVING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3163, 15 August 1917, Page 4

COST OF LIVING

PARLIAMENT AR V COMMITTEE PROPOSED. In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, Mr. J. Craigie (Timuru) presented a petition signed by 110 members of the Jiew Zealand State .Service Association -asking the Government to "deviso means of effecting relief in the matter of the increased cost of living.*'' Mr. Craigie added that the petitioners wished the- Government to set up a committee to consider the cost-of-living question and to hear the ovidencq of servants of the State and others whoso testimony might be regarded as important. He hoped that tlio Government would act- in accordance with the wishes of the petitioners.

Mr. L. M. Isitfc (Christchurch North) said that ho liad a similar petition signed by 135 Public Servants resident in liis electorate. Tho Prime Minister said that ho would not have any objection to setting up a committee of the House on the lines suggested. Thcro wore certain difficulties in the way, and lie was Dot prepared to make a definite promise at that stage. Ho would bo able to give an answer within a few days. Ho thought himself that it would 1h) a very good thing to have the whole subject ventilated and let the people get an idea of tho difficulties in tho way of doing what they were asking in connection with the cost of living. Later in the day the following committee was set up, on the motion of tho Prime Minister, lo consider tho cost-of-living question, and report to tho House: Messrs. Bollard, Craigie, Dickson, Guthrie, Hornsby. Poole, Sirley, Stathain, Veitch, Wilkinson, and Massey.