PRICES IN THE ’SIXTIES

Shannon News, 31 July 1928, Page 4

PRICES IN THE ’SIXTIES

Interesting Peep Into the Past

In a recent issue of the New Zealand Herald was printed the following interesting facts concerning the cost of living and farm produce, in the early days of the Dominion. Cost of living in Auckland in 1863 was high in relation to wages, the stale of which is indicated by an advertisement calling for 50 axemen at 50s. per .week or 30s. with board, l’ossibly carpenters, masons, and allied tradesmen, who were in demand in the 'toivn, might have been aide to bargain for more, but that no working man could afford luxuries is indicated !>v the following range of prices for necessities: — Milk, (id. a quart. Butter, fresh, Is (id a lb. Cheese, colonial, Is 3d a lb. Eggs, is 9:1. a dozen. Lard } Is (id. a lb. ' Fowls, 5s to (is a pair. Ducks, (is a pair. Geese, 7s * 8s each. Turkeys, Ss to 10s each. Daeori, Is (id a 11). llaniSj English, Is (id a lb. Potatoes, 11s (id a cwt. Beef, 10d to Is a lb. Mutton lOd. a lb. Pork, 9d a lb. Bread, sd. a two-pound loaji. Fine fiour, 19s for 1001 b. Sharps, 12s for 1001 b. Bran, 2s a bushel. The requirements of the large body of troops in'the province doubtless created scarcity and increased prices. The graziers,of the time were on a remarkably good wicket. The local supply of meat, for instance, was not sufficient to meet the demand, and sheep and cattle were transported from southern ports as well as from Australia and Norfolk Island to supply the shortage. The following list of prices from a market report in one of the early issues of the Herald is illuminating:— Fat Fat cows, £ll to £l2 15s. Best fatted Leicester .wethers, 57s to ■ C 3» ------ Merino wethers, 23s to 325. Ilalf-bred sheep, 24s to 30s. Fat sheep, 22s (id to 345. Fat lambs, His (id to 22s lOd. Store cattle (scarce and in demand). Cows, £8 10s to £9 15s. Steers, £8 ■to £9 12s (id. Dairy cows (breed not mentioned) L £l3 to £lO 12s (id. Yearling calve* . £5 los to £7 7s (id. Weaned calves, £5. " Wool was not then a very substantial item in the export , trade of Auckland, the offering at the second sale of tiro 1803 season by Mr Alfred Buckland being 250 bales rind 50'bags, but the prices for the time were by no mentis meagre. At this sale washed wools brought Is 6d to Is 71 d per lb., Leicester wool commanding the highest values. Wool in grease made lid to Is Id.

As to (lie money market it was rc-

ported:— “Capita] is abundant but not freely offered, as capitalists are holding in anticipation of land speculations. Shareholders evince"no disposition to do business at present rates. Now Zealand Insurance shares have been quitted at £l2 IDs. Six months ’ dividend has accrued on them, and as it. is expected that the company will declare ten' per cent, for the half year, this figure is much below their value.” The tariff of the time does not seem to have exercised the ingenuity of a wizard of finance determined to exploit every opportunity of obtaining revenue. A critic in Parliament complained that the tariff placed an unfair burden upon the working'classes.' A case of silks worth £IOOO, lie said, paid the same duty (£4 Is) as a ease of moleskins worth £4B.

The same member may have been the first man to advocate an import tax on land produce. He considered that wool should be taxed equally with gold.