COST OF LIVING

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 37, 14 February 1933, Page 6

COST OF LIVING

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Last week we were told by Mr. Hargest, and tonight by the Hon. Mr. Masteijs that the increases in exchange and the sales tax .will be nullified by a corresponding decrease in wholesale prices. This is absolutely misleading, as the following true facts will prove:—lmmediately the increased exchange came into operation the wholesale grocery merchants increased all indented overseas gdods by V/a to 12% 'per cent., the only exceptions being where English firms .had branches in New Zealand carrying stocks. However, in these cases the sales tax is now certainly added. As far as the grocer is concerned at least 90 per cent, of his lines are already up, the main increases as far as the worker is concerned being:—Butter, l%d per 1b; sugar, 3s 5d per -701b bag (over %d lb); bacon, Id lb; loose tea, from 2d to 4d lb, according to quality; cocoa, l%d lb; jams, Id lb; cheese, %d lb; kerosene, Is 6d case; biscuits, 5 per cent.; oatmeal, 15 per cent.; 'rice, 15 per cent.; salt, 15 per cent.; milk, 5 per cent.; matches, 10 per cent.; safeties, 15 per cent. With tobacco, our best seller is up 3d per tin (Id exchange* Id duty, Id sales tax). The old age pensioner's standby is up 2d plug, and so on. . The Minister adds insult to injury by stating he will see there is no profiteering. For many months the grocers of Wellington have sold the necessities of life at coat price, and if it is possible to profiteer after paying income tax, unemployment tax, dangerous goods tax, Health Department tax, inflated exchange tax, sales tax, motor-van, and petrol tax, then I hope the Minister will teach the gi-oeers of this town a few lessons—be is certainly in the right 'pace to learn.—l am, etc.) E. C. RUSSELL. February 13.