The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1915. THE COST OF LIVING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 52, 30 October 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1915. THE COST OF LIVING.

i Though undoubtedly the cost of living is a very troublesome question, and one that in war-time presses hardly,' it is at least consoling to know that in this much-favored land we are infinitely better off than are our brethren in Australia or in Britain. , A Christchurch Press writer, who has gone carefully into the matter, sizes up the position when he says that nobody expected that prices would not rise, and no honest person can pretend or has pretended, that prices ought not to have risen. If it can be shown that New Zealand is far better off than her near neighbours outside the war zone, and enormously better off than Britain or any of the European belligerent countries, then there cannot be much room for complaint. Figures compiled by this authority show that for the week ending October 9th, the market rates for flour in New Zealand ranged from £l3 a ton in Dunklin to CI I a ton in Auckland. In Australia the price ranged from £l6 17s 6d in Sydney to £2O 7s (id in Brisbane. The September prices of meat in Christchurch and Sydney were 'as follows, in pence per pound:— I Mutton Mutton' Sirloin. Steak. Cleg;). (loin). d. d. d. d. Christchurch 7:J 9J <>:,' 53 Sydney 12 141 8 8| In Melbourne the average price of meat was higher still. The prices of butter, flour, oatmeal and sugar are also instructive:— Butter. Flour. Oatmeal. Sugar lb. 251 b. lb. lb. d. d. d. d. Christchurch Hi;} 51 3 23 Sydney 17§ 61f ' 3| 3 According to the Federal Government Statistician, commodities which would have cost 17s 2d in 1904, would cost 23s Id last July in Australia. In New Zealand the rise was from 10s (in 1905) to 22s 4j}d in the June quarter of this year. If it be objected that such a comparison is not to the point, there are the figures showing the percentage increases in the prices

from the June quarter of 1914 to flie June quarter of this year:— Australia. N. Zealand. Increase. Increase. per cent. > per cent.. Food and Groceries 17.8 9.95 House Kent I Food, Groceries, J and Rent 8.1 5.16 | 1 The rise in the cost of living in this country lias been very substantially less than in Australia. But comparison with the prices in Britain and in the enemy countries makes the complaints of our Socialist politicians ap- ; pear less than decent. According to ! the "Economist," the cost of living' ; in Britain was in July last 32$ per ! cent, greater than in July, 1914. In. I Germany, the authoritative figures : printed in the "Deutsche Reichsanzei-j j ger" and "Statistiche Korrespon-i I den/,," revealed an increase in prices ; amounting to 50 per, cent, by March! i last. In conclusion, the Press writer: ' again urges the necessity of thrift t<v ! enable us to better meet any bad times that may await us in the future.