THE COST OF LIVING.
Efforts were made by the Department of Labour during the past year to obtain some reliable statistics on the interesting question of the cost of living. Following the lead given by the Commonwealth an inquiry on a smaller but similar scale was instituted in the Dominion and the method of supplying booklets in which workers could keep an account of household expenses was followed with certain modifications. The inquiry was limited to the chief towns of New Zealand, 750 books being sent to each of the department’s officers in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, who in turn sought the co-operation of unionists and workers of all classes for the purpose of keeping a correct tally of income and expenditure lor the twelve mouths commencing from October ist, 1910, to September 31st, 19H, inclusive. Full publicity was given to the fact that the department was seeking this record, and the co-operation of the public concerned was asked so as to bring the matter to a successful issue. The whole of the 750 books were not fully distributed in any of the centres, an average of about 600 only being issued. Some of the members of the unions declined to assist in the matter, while others took the matter up enthusiastically, no doubt because it was the desire of the officials to obtain the records for future use in presenting their cases before the Court of Arbitration. The inlormatiou supplied by individuals will be kept strictly confidential, and it is hoped, if the booklets have been faithfully kept by a sufficient number of workers, to publish an interesting return, either prior to or in connection with the next annual report of the departmeni.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH19110817.2.17
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1031, 17 August 1911, Page 3
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285THE COST OF LIVING. Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1031, 17 August 1911, Page 3
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