THE COST OF LIVING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9792, 16 October 1917, Page 3

THE COST OF LIVING

To the Editor "N.Z. Times.” Sir. —Now and then the public is supplied by the Government Statistician with a schedule showing proportionate increases in cost of necessaries over certain periods. Such an interesting return is published in yesterday’s .’’Times.” Appended to it is a very singular statement which is alleged to show the cost of the weekly budget for an assumed household. It is not, however, clearly stated what sort of a household it ■' is—whether • of humans or canaries. However, wo will presume that-it is red-blooded people with the usual assimilative appointments that arc concerned. The article preaches an eloquent though silent sermon on the virtues of frugality and thrift, and an appropriate moral can be readily drawn by a discerning public. AVe see how the vice of overfeeding so common among the workers upon rich meats, the feasting upon luscious fruits and appetising cream, is sternly reproved by the statistician. Some 33 pounds of food from the following list, viz.:—Bread, flour, oatmeal, rice, and potatoes, as well as 13 pounds of meat, is allowed each week to an assumed household which is commonly supposed to consist of six persons. There are usually three meals per day, and there are seven days in the week. Thus 6x3x7 equals 126. which, is the number of meals in the week which must be provided from the 48 pounds of food classified above. Therefore, 43 pounds or 768 ounces of food (providing full weight is received when purchasing, and is all sound and usable substance; anti further that tho people appreciate the economy of using and not wasting potato peelings, and that they are prepared to waive tho question of weight lost in meat by evaporation during course of cooking) gives an average of Gozs Idr each for 126 meals. To this in fairness must be added a 1-126 part of the followipg: 21bs jam, Jib raisins, 3lbs butter, ilb cheese, and lib bacon. Strangely no mention is made regarding infants’ food, so it must be presumed that baby is expected to take on the morning steak and tho midday sirloin roast- just like father and tho others. It is open to question whether this scale of feeding is not a subtle endeavour. to evolve a .human species with a genteel appetite and a social standard on a par with tho primitive cavedweller. Superfluities such as fish, fruit (barring of course raisins and the 5Jd per pound jam), vegetables (other of course than potatoes), soap, and the other amenities usually associated with latter-day civilisation aro dispensed with. A T iewed squarely the matter bristles with possibilities. Tho perfect desiderata —tho lowest possible consuniption of staples and the greatest possible exportable surplus—seems attainable. _ But regarded from a serious viewpoint is not this absurd schedule vicious and misleading? Not of course in New land—the cost of living is too real a thing for anyone to suppose that a week’s groceries for a household can be purchased for 8s 6Jd, but what of the effect on others who may accept the statement as authoritative and may flock in consequence to the supposed land flowing with milk and honey ? Such people unfortunately would not have the opportunity of being influenced by the vigorous if homely philippics that are being directed by mothers of families towards this branch of tho Statistical Department, consequent upon the publication of household budgets. I do not know the cost of collating this information—it really makes mo too ill to dwell upon the details; but it is quite apparent that the time has come when this branch of the department should be supervised by a woman who would at least have an intelligent conception of what the ordinary' requirements of a family are.—l am etc.. SQUARE DEAL.