COST OF LIVING.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 11 August 1919, Page 4

COST OF LIVING.

PRIME MINISTER GIVES COMPARISONS. During an interview Mr Massey said: —“As to adverse comment respecting our cost of living measures, f ask the people to compare the cost of living in this country with that in other countries. In England to-day the cost of living is double what it is in New Zealand, and in Franco it is 50 per cont higher still. In Canada and America also look where prices have soared compared to New Zealand prices. Do you not think that if it had been possible to keep the cost of livinj; in those countries down to the lev*l which wo would all like to see their statemen would not have done something to effect that reduction? It is absurd to argue that nothing has been done to check the upward tendency by the statesmen of various countries where the burden of life is so heavy to day. Statistics will show that a very great deal has been done in New Zealand to keep down the cost of living. I know that the increases have pressed heavily on large numbers of people of small incomes. Unfortunately this was a matter it was impossible to remedy, but I challenge the accusation that the Coalition Government has done nothing, or has failed to do everything possible. Only this morning 1 saw a complaint by a member of Parliament regarding the cost of living. My recollection is that that particular member was himself on the Parliamentary Cost of Living Committee, which made some valuable recommendations ifor the future, but failed to discover a single case of exploitation. That committee had an opportunity of calling for anything in the shape of evidence and papers it considered necessary for its investigation. There is provision on tho Statute Book to the effect that any trader guilty of charging more than will ensure him reasonable profit, taking all circumstances into consideration, is liable to a fine of £2OO, or, in the case of a company, to £IOOO. Why don’t public men who complain about the Government and the cost of living do their duty by that clause, and if, they know of exploitation set the law in operation against exploiters?”