DIMINISHING SOVEREIGN

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 70, 16 December 1919, Page 11

DIMINISHING SOVEREIGN

DOWN TO 12s. 9M. Tho November "Abstract of Statistics," published under Government authority, brings the Dominion's statistics generally up to l:he end of the September quarter.. The chief interest in the statistical tnbles, as far as the public is concerned, is tho record given of the oxtent to which the sovereign, or rather the pound-note, lias depreciated. Tho figures show that tho pound is decreasing in value morcrapidly now than in war timo. Taking tho average month in the years 1909-13 as the 20s. base, its valuo in the September quarter was 12s. 9S<l., a drop of the .Tune quarter of this year—one of tho biccrst drops on record. Takine the 20s. base os in July, 1914, the £1 is only worth 13s. BJd. as far as Mie throe food groups aro concerned. Tho analysis is as follows:—Groceries, 1.1?. 2d.: dairy produce, 13s. 115<1.; meat, lis. 2d.; average, 13s. 83d., or nearly a third off. ■ ' Wellington is still tho most expensive city lo.reside fii. That is determined by the Government Statistician in an interesting table showing the amount re. quired in each year, 1909 to 1919, to purchase in the four centres an amount of food which would have cost 20s. on the average of the centres in 1909-13. This works out as follows:— £ s. d. i Auckland 1 " 31Wellington ' 111 51 Christeluirch 1 10 9\ Dunedin 1 10 D& In the absence nbrond of tho GovcrnTuppi Slnlisti" : ™ (Mr. .Jfakobn Prascr) tho "Abstract" is beinsr issued by Mr. J. W. Butcher, Acting-Governnunt Statistician.