COST OF LIVING STATISTICS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40035, 5 December 1929, Page 1

COST OF LIVING STATISTICS.

COLLECTION OF HOUSEHOLD ■budgets. BRIZES OFFERED. The following letter was received by the local District High School Committee from the Government Statistician and’ read at Monday night’s meeting'. The committee decided to forward on the names of any householders who desired to fall in with the request. The letter is as follows: “At three Conferences (1921, 1926 and 1928) of Labour Statisticians under the auspices of the International Labour Office of the League of Nations, resolutions were passed urging all countries adhering to the League, to prepare for the revision of their “cost of living” index numbers and adopt a uniform base in 1930. New Zealand desires to give effect to those resolutions and a pre-essential to the revision is a satisfactory collection of household budgets. The ideal requirement is to have the full twelve months" recorded, but past experience proves that it ispractically useless to ask people to keep records for so long’. On the last collection made by the office six 'month’s records were asked tor but the response was not sufficient. It is proposed on this occasion to ask for only three months’ records, and so as to have something of summer and winter expenditure with holidays in, it is proposed to take the collection for the three months, March, April and May of next year. “As an inducement to keep accurate and detailed records over the period, the following money prizes will be offered:— “For householders in the North Island: —One prize of £2O, three prizes of £5 each, and fifteen prizes of £1 each. “For householders in the South Island:—(Similar prizos. “The right is to be reserved to reduce the prizes proportionately if less than 500 completed books are received. The prizes will be awarded for the best properly completed books, being judged primarily on tlie accuracy and good faith of the (information given, while writing a ndt neatness will only he considered in relation to the probable clerical ability of the householder; the decision of the Government Statistician being- absolutely final. Special .arrangements will be made -to ensure that the identity of competitors will be known only to one or two senior officers, and will be held strictly confidential. The collection is to be. confined to householders whose incomes or earnings do not exceed £364 per annum of £7

per week. “It is a reproach to New Zealand that we have not hitherto obtained a really satisfactory collection of household 'budgets. Other countries appear to have (been able to obtain successful collections, and I asllc for the co-operation and assistance of your Committee in making this collection a satisfactory and successful one.

“Although it is not*proposed to distribute the books until February next I am approaching you now so that there may 'he ample time for securing the co-operation of your members, either in keeping the necessary records and submitting entries themselves or in placing the hooks in the hands of householders who will be able and willing to do so. “If ’you are willing to assist in the. direction indicated I shall be glad if you will advise me at an early date how many account books >Oll can ‘ place with advantage or else supply me with names and addresses of householders Who would he willing to keep the necessary records and books will be sent to them direct from this office. —Yours faithfully, Malcolm Fraser, Government Statistician.”