HIGHER COST OF LIVING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1433, 7 August 1915, Page 4

HIGHER COST OF LIVING.

COMPARATIVE RETURNS. Figures were published recently by the Commonwealth statistician estimating the increased cost of living in the six capital towns of Australia, as illustrated by retail prices in the June quarter of 1915, compared with the June quarter of 1914. A statement has been prepared under instructions from the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, giving the corresponding figures for the tour chief centres of New Zealand, compiled on the same principles, and from similar data. The average increases of the capital towns in Australia, and the chief centres of New Zealand compare as follows : —Food and groceries: Australia. 17.8 per cent.; New Zealand, 9,95 per cent. House rent: Australia, 5.8 per cent; New Zealand, 2.67 per cent. The increases per cent, in the past twelve months in various towns compare as follows ; Sydney, 3.7; Melbourne, 11,8;

Brisbane, 14,3; Adelaide, 7.7 ; Perth, 8 ; Hobart, 10.6; Auckland, .74; Wellington, 6.42; Christchurch, 5.91 ; Dunedin, .87. A further table sets out the amounts necessary, on the average, to purchase in the capital towns of Australia what would have cost, on the average, £,i In 1911, when expended on food and groceries. These figures are as follows :—Second quarter of 1915 : —Australia: Sydney, 25s gd 1 Melbourne, 27s 8d ; Brisbane, 26s 4d ; Adelaide, 30s 2d ; Perth, 30s 2d : Hobart, 28s 3d. New Zealand;—Auckland, 24s 2j£d ; Wellington, 24s io%d ; Christchurch, 23s ij4d ; Dunedin, 24s o^d. The percentage of increases, in the cost of food and groceries, in the six capital towns of Australia, and the four chief centres of New Zealand, calculated from prices in the June quarter of 1915. over the prices of the June quarter, 1914, are : Australia ; Sydney, 10.6 ; Melbourne, 23.6 ; Brisbane, 24.6 ; Adelaide, 20.5 ; Perth, 16.4 ; Hobart, 14.8. New Zealand : Auckland. 7,49 : Wellington, 10.96 ; Christchurch. 10.34 ; Dunedin, 11.16,