THE COST OF LIVING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 178, 17 April 1918, Page 6

THE COST OF LIVING

INTERESTING COMMENTS WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE The Prime Minister stated in the House of .Representatives that he hod received a report from the Board of Trade regarding tho tost-of-living question generally. Tho report mentioned that every eftort had been made by the Government, in conjunction with' the Board f>l Irade, to keep the cost of living down to a reasonable level. It was a fact tiiat iood prices had advanced in New ■"aland less than in any other part of lie Empire Many allegations of exploitation hail been referred to the board for investigation, and the result of their in. nuiru-s showed tlmi; "no undue advantage M been taken of the consuming public. Jt hau been proved in all cases investigated by the board that the, increase of price to the public had not been excessive in view of the prices quoted by nerchants for reslocking. . The legislation of last year had made it .necessary fm- merchants to get the consent of tho Board of Trade before making increases irt prices. The board had conferred with merchants on the subject, and by agreement with them it now controlled the prices of fifty-seven main commodities. The bdard had arranged to control the prices of all classes of goods manufactured in; New Zealand, such as soap, candles, condensed milk, biscuits and tinned meat. This scheme had been completed in March. Committees of merchants had been set up in tho chief centres and were acting in an advisory capacity to the board. These committees made suggestions and submitted evidence for the consideration of the board. It was exceedingly difficult for the board to ascertain the exact price of articles, since the large and increasing cost of freight and insurances, and other outside charges beyond local control, were (he chief factors. Shipping was under the control of tho Imperial Government. The cost of getting butter to London illustrated the wrv shipping charges raised freights, said Mr. Massey. Freight cost 10s. per cwt.; ordinary insurance, Is. lid.; war risk, 11s. 9d.; exchange,'is. Id.; landing charges, Is.; commission, os. 8(1.; discount, Is. 10d.; making a total of 335. 3d. per cwt. on butter landed in London, or over ,C 33 a ton. .A-member: That need not affect tho position in New Zealand. .Mr. ilassny: The cost at which butter is sold in New Zealand is the price paid by tho Imperial Government, less the cast of handling in New Zealand. A member: Could you' not reduce that charge for commission. Air. Massey: "It is an Imperial charge." The Prime Minister went ou to say that the Board of Trade was- considering a Echemo for the control of standard qualifies of clothing and boots. The articles would be sold by the manufacturers at prices to be controlled by the board. The prices of primary products were regulated by the prices paid overseas. The New Zealand fanners had accepted less than market values from the Imperial Government. A report submitted to the House \ast session had shown that the, farmers would have received ail addi-' tional ..C9,000.000 for their meat, cheese, and wool if they had sold it in tho open market. A member: If you could have got it Home. Mr. Massey: "Exactly. It is only fair to say that." Tho Imperial authorities liacl now given up the requisitioning of hides and sheepskins, and in the lvc-an-time they hud stopped the export of butter from New Zealand. This was done on account'of the scarcity if shipping. >