THE DEAR DELIGHTS OF AUCKLAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 118, 9 August 1927, Page 10

THE DEAR DELIGHTS OF AUCKLAND

THE delights of Auckland are manifold, and its inhabitants are often told that they are fortunate, living in such an attractive city. Their advantages, however, appear to he mainly picturesque. According to the Government Statistician, they have to pay dearly for the delights of residence in Auckland City. Comparisons of food prices published in the monthly “Abstract of Statistics” show that in almost all lines that matter, Aucklanders have to pay more than their brethren of Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin—the last-named city being very considerably cheaper to live in. The 21b loaf of bread, for instance, is id dearer here than in Wellington or Christchurch, and Id dearer than in Dunedin. A 251 b bag of flour costs 5s 9d here. It is only 5s s id in Wellington, and 5s 3d in Dunedin. Oatmeal in Auckland costs 8s s|d a 251 b bag; in Wellington and Christchurch it is but 6s 3§d, and in Dunedin Id cheaper still. Sugar is refined in Auckland. It sells here at 17s 3d; they pay the cost of transporting it to Wellington and sell it there for 4fd less. Jam is Id lb dearer than in Wellington. There is more milk produced around Auckland than anywhere else in New Zealand; yet it is Id quart dearer here than in Christchurch or Dunedin. One might traverse the whole range of food prices and .find these disparities all the way. There is a real “shock” to be sustained, too, in the study of electricity charges. In Auckland the charge for 23 units (the average monthly consumption of a five-roomed house) is 8s iOd. In Wellington it is 5s Ilf d; in Dunedin, 4s 8d; and in Christchurch only 3s lOd—or less than half the Auckland price! The few instances quoted show that Auckland is ao expensive place for the family man to dwell, if he has a limited income. They show, in fact, that those who live in Attckland are subjected to a very stiff economical disability. Why?