COST OF LIVING COMMISSION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1514, 24 February 1916, Page 2

COST OF LIVING COMMISSION.

Referring to the question of the probable action of the recently appointed Board of Trade in regard to the increased cost of living, the Wellington Post says :—“During recent weeks the public discussions of ‘cost of living’ have not been so numerous as they were last year. The flood of words, in the open, has abated, but there is plain evidence that the workers are keenly conscious of the higher prices of bread and butter, meat, boots, and other necessities. The watersiders have advanced their minimum wage to is 8d an hour (an increase of over 17 per cent.). They made a strong argument of the ‘war prices’, for household necessities, and their success has filliped the railway men to press for an additional 2s a day (about 3d an hour, the same increase as the watersiders gained). The case is not yet at a stage for comment, but it is plain that the situation is ugly enough to give anxiety to the Government as well as to the public. Will the new Board of Trade have any part in the dispute ? A function of this Board is to enquire Into prices, and make recommendations to the Government. Many folk may not be very hopeful about the results of the prospective investigation to be made by the Board, of which the appointments caused no excitement among the public. However, here is the Board’s opportunity to prove itself. The field is open and clear; the prices are large and conspicuous ; they cannot be easily missed. One good service the Board can do for the public—and that is in the collection and classification of facts in the experience of other countries. By the time that Parliament meets (assuming an assembly near the end ot June), the Board should have very helpful intormation regarding Canada, Australia, Great Britain and other countries. If necessary, the cable should be used to quicken the mailing of the desired reports, statements and records. It is very important to have New Zealand’s people well Informed about the experiments and experiences of other countries.”