COST OF LIVING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3788, 13 February 1908, Page 2

COST OF LIVING.

The - Premier,- speaking, ; at land last week onithe cost of living, said the rise of prices in New Zealand and the cost of living must be admitted, - but it is not due to the operation of the Arbitration Act, for these reasons; —Firstly, if. the rise .is dqe to the rise iq wages, then asluming wages had

risen in the absence of the Act, the same increase in prices would follow. If would not have risen in the absence ol the Act, then the Couit has at least secured an increase of wages to meet increased pi ices. Secondly, inert astd cost of living and prices is not confined to New Zealand, but is almost universal in progressive countries. I Rave had the best estimates that can be prepared by those, who are interested in these matters; and the results shpw that while, prices are increased in New Zealand', wages and the material conditions of workers have been far more proportionately improved. There seems no doubt that in the Old World, and possibly even in New Zealand, prices have been abnormally increased by ttie operaJipns of monopolists. In Germany.land monopoly is one of the main causes dt ‘ increased prices—land" monopoly not' only in' agricultural land, but, monopoly of city lands, resulting in absurdly high rents. These sources of increased prices the Government has set itself to check, and will with all the means in its power prevent monopolies in whatever place they arise and for whatever purposes they are created when it is found they are working to the general detriment of our people and absolute freedom of trade. It has been well said that we should measure our comfort and our happiness incomparison with that of others, and if the workers of New Zealand will but read as I have clone the unquestioned account of the wages paid and the prices existing for commodities in all the progressive countries of the Old World, our workers must admit that, while they have much yet to ask, they are better off in every material respect than their fellow workers in other lands.