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Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1922, Page 2

Titr British Ministry of Labour’s statistics of the cost of living indicate :i further decline during February of two points, flic percentage increase for all items over the standard of July, 1511 t, standing on .March I at 8(5, against 5\S a month earlier, l’or food alone the increase was 77 per cent, compared wit t 79 per cent On February 1. How l’ar, according to the -Ministry’s calcul i'.ion i, • tie cost of living lias fallen since the highest point was reached sixteen months ago is shown by the following figures, representing the percentage increases over the level of July, 1911, at November 1, 1920, and March 1, 1921, respectively:—

Food, All Items Nov. 1, 1920 191 176 March 1, 1922 77 86 Pecrefls? 3]4 Pfl

Discussing the changes in the month of February in retail food prices, the “Labour Gazette” states that eggs and fish were substantially cheaper on March 1 Ilian on February 1 and there was also some reduction during the month in the average prices of milk, Hirtter, margarine and imported beef. These decreases were, however, largely offset hy advances in the prices Of biend, flour and mutton. No change is recorded under the heads of rent and fuel and light, hut clothing prices, fell slightly, and at the beginning of this month averaged 145 per cent above the pre-war level.

An important note was struck at the annual meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, when Mr A. 1’ • Roberts, seconding the adoption of tile annual report, said that an important step had been taken towards economic reconstruction. He referred to the question of the reduction i f wages then under consideration hy the Arbitration 1 ourt. He appealed to all those in commercial circles to play the game, and would impress on them the necessity of replying to any reduction which might Ic made in wages. Those in trade must make corresponding sacrifices. The question had been dealt with I>.v the New Zealand Employers’ Federation, and the response at the conference Was very whole-hearted. What they wmiie I to say was that where puanufaeturing cos's were reduced, the price to the retailer must he correspondingly reduced, mid where the retailVs buying* costs were reduced, the prices to thb men ! iii the street must be correspondingly reduced. This applied to the ebSt of | goods or service aiid where it was not I possible to make any reduction in ■ actual charges, it should be possible to ' give a percentage reduction on the j charges made for service. If and j when the reduction was made by the Arbitration Court, he asked them to he unanimous in responding and putting their own house in order, or they would only he retarding the reduction in the cost of living, which was at the bottom of the whole economic question.