LIVING COSTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 April 1923, Page 1

LIVING COSTS.

LATEST STATISTIC S i? FV! FAYED. WELLINGTON. April !. | Aleasiitvd in lie point- uf the cost loi living: index figures there was a slight ri-e during the month ended j February loth, due to the increased j prices of luitter eggs ami meat. A I more reliable comparison is one made ; over a longer period and this shows ; that slowly, hut steadily the o.- on tla Is oi drily Lie aiv cheapening. Details of j I'u ice movements iviordcd hv ihe (toverniuciif Siaii-iicau .-how licit t.he fall in tin prices of DoLaLi.es and unions turnout-' for a decline of I’d points ui the groceries group, hut increases in the prices of butler ami eggs have sent j the i o-1 <i living up 33 points and similarly there is a sharp advance in the prior of meat of 4-S points, due to an all round increase in the price oi mutton. These figures may not he easy for the housewife to follow, hut she can understand the matter better if she is telcl that groceries, dairy produce and meat combined are dearer than the previous mouth, by about Sd on an expenditure on food o! C 3 per wc"k. or that v. hat could lie bought lor £3 in July. HILL costs 1M -Is to-day. That j . ;• < nmdmt ;Uion cos’rtTiiinjT if . a; . bull' r. ciiee-e. milk and eggs. (Ulier important factor-, such n« •lotlies, hoots, gas. coal, electric light, tram ami train tales, do mu come into ! bi'.-e tables. The cost, however, of fund. rent, fuel and light :*.< given by the Govcrmncet statistician is lower at tlie cud of February. 1H22. b.v '--I points in four e- Hires. A! 1 tile Mime, tal'ing an average of their co.-t in Atiekl::ud. \Y| llington. . Christchurch and Dunedin trum lb“J to I!'I3. they have inn cm .d hy -12.31 per cent. That is to - ; i\ that what could he done w:th a ~~. f .C! tier week in meeting rent. ‘o si. lighting and good and coal hills ii those ■ ili s. averaging the whole foul- of them, in pre-war times, reouiivs roughly Co lls tier week to-dn>. 1 ncideuialiy some ot ilia local restati■acts that had brought ike pvicc of m ods down from Is till to Is 3d have - 1 ■ st advaneed their pi ices to Is fid. ■ iviiig as a reason, the itierea.-eil cost Tl*a distinction ol the highest- hoii-c ; > 11 s does not belong to Wellington, anay he popularly -opposed. Hamilton bail'-, followed hv New Plymouth. Room:'. Palmerston North and Mclltnglon in that order.