THE COST OF LIVING.

Motueka Star, Volume I, Issue 10, 13 September 1901, Page 4

THE COST OF LIVING.

FIFTY PER CENT. CHEAPER THAN IN 1875. “It has been stated that the cost of living in New Zealand is much higher now than ever before. Never was a statement made so utterlv fictitious, because it can be proved that the cost of living has continually decreased during the past thirty years upon the neessaries of life by nearly 50 per cent.” That was the statement of Mr Nicholas Reid, president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, at its last quarterly meeting. For the purpose of checking so "broad and sweeping a statement, a New Zealand Times reporter interviewed several importers as to the difference in the wholesale prices of the necessaries of life from 1875 to the present time. The result was to show that the cost of living has decreased fully 50 per cent, in the period mentioned. Sngar, for instance, which in 1865 cost <£s6 a ton and in 1850 £65 per ton, can now be obtained for £22 12s 6d, notwithstanding the article of today is worth" £3 per t >:,■ mere in quality than it was at the dates.mentioned. Treacle, which in 187 5 cost 33s per hundredweight, and g Idea syrup, which was 27s 6d, ;*.■» e av respectively sold by the wholesaler t ' the retailer for 11s 9d and 15s. Flour, which in the early sixties cost the r-etailer £26 per t >n. can now he pm-chased for £27. Tae respect ve prices of cornflour, per pound was and is 9d and -3d respectively. Macaroni and vermicelli have receded from lid to 4d within the period mentioned. Bago and tapioca. have gone back fro m 6d to lid per lb. Candles of better quality than could be bought for Is Id in 1875 can now h>e bought for 5d and 6d. It used to cost 6s a. gall on for paraffin. Kerosene, which is a. far better illuminant, "10Id wholesale. Salid oil has been reduced from I2s per dozen to about O.s. "Vinegar lias dropped from 2s Gd to Is 3d. Tinned herrings, which used to be 14s per dozen, have receded gradually to 7s. 4 Sardines have fallen from 9s 6d to for 1. a Ives, and 6 s to 3s Gd and 4s for quarters. Split peas, pearl barley and oatmeal have slumped from 26s t > 11s Gd per !. uudred we ig! .t. Blue and washing soda have receded 50 per cent. Candied peel, which used to he Is 2d per lb, has gone down to sd. Vestas have gone down from 6s Gd to 3s sd. Jam in 1875 used to bring 7s and 8s per dozen. The average price for better quality in 1901 is 4s 3d. Tea in 1875 was wholesale at 3s 6d. Better quality can be got to-day for- Is 9d and 2s. Currants which use 1 to erst 7d per F-. will, -when the new crop is available, c only 4-|d and sd. C>e or ha> gone down from Is 7d t.. Is 4 h Tae whole sole price of soda, crystals was 9s per hundredweight in the “ - rid old days' 1 ; to-day ss. Bicarbonate of soda has receded from 23s to 9s. Batter of irr.zed and often inferiorquality used to cost, Is 9d and 2s in the winter months. Now it can be got good all the year round for Is per lb. Patent medicines have shown a decline in price. P eserved milk, formerly 13s per doze >, is now 6s 6d. R're, from £25 per ton, now* kicks t e beam at £l6 IQs.

Paper and stivt.o.iary have dropped at least 50 per cent. Potatoes, which now average about £5 a ton wholesale, used to cost £lO to £ls.

In I 860 the la.boring man used to earn 6s, and carpenters 8s per day, and had to educate his children at his own expense. l%ow he had so much leisure ana had to spend so much money keeping himself and his wife and children well dressed and amused that he is running wages up to a higher rate than they ever reached before. There are indications of a breaking point.