THE COST OF LIVING.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9445, 15 May 1909, Page 4

THE COST OF LIVING.

A representative of the Auckland Star has been making inquiries in the Northern capital as to whether there is any justification for the statement that the coat of living has increased daring thp past five or sis years. According to the information gathered from the most reliable business people in the city, there is no substantial evidenoe|forthcoming that the cost of living in Auckland is any greater to-day than it was six years ago. On the other band, there has been a considerable decrease in the cost of articles of diet compared with the scale of prices existing six years ago. For instance, in recent years the duty has been taken off such articles as raisins, currants, piuues, and dates, and the consumer has reaped the benefit. Dates not so long ago sold at 5d per lb, now they can be bought for 3d. Twopence per pound duty used to be levied on all these fruits, and the reduction to the purchaser is a considerable item. Tea is now a free article, and is cheaper now than it ever was. A few; years ago the leading price for tea was 3s; now it Is 4d and Is 6d, With the removal of the duty, sugar is now reduced by a halfpenny per lb. Flour is a little dearer. Potatoes, another necessary article of diet, ate cheaper this year than for some years past. The average price of eggs, taken for the whole of the year, would not he found to vary 2d per dozen during a period extending over the last five years. Best factory butter averages about Is 2d per lb all the year round. Jam and marmalade are no longer to be regarded as luxuries, and the very best jam is sold at sd, while other qualities can be purchased for 4d. Treacle and syrup are popular with certain classes, and there also there has been a decrease. In fact, remarked the head of a big grocery firm, there is scarcely an article showing an increase, and he has no hesitation in saying that the average price of groceries to-day is lower than the average price prevailing six years ago. Though the price was high for the best joints of meat and rump steak was 8d per lb, forequarters of mutton sold at 2d per lb, boiling beef at 3d, and roast beef from 3d to sd, but the average working man insisted on having nothing but the best, wifch“the result that bullocks had to be killed for the sirloins, and people wondered why the price of such joints was so high. Notwithstanding the statements of the grocers, the newspaper man found serious complaints from the restaurant proprietors and lodginghouse keepers, who said that not only had rents increased, but the cost of living was greater. It was admitted thatj groceries were cheaper, but bread, meat, bn tier, fish, and the cost of labour had ,gone up considerably.