THE COST OF LIVING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 242, 12 April 1912, Page 5

THE COST OF LIVING.

MUNICIPAL MILK. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Interesting references to the cost of living and 'the milk supply problem were made by the Hon. G. Laurenson (Minister for Labor), when addressing the timber workers' deputation to-day. The Minister quoted a publication by Mr. McHwraith, who took as a basis the period from 1890 to 1899, when .the fluctuations In the prices of foodstuffs were less than usual. Mr. Laurenson had held the opinion that the cost of living had increased enormously, but it appears that in that period the increase was only 3 per cent. The writer admitted the large rise in the prices of butter, meat and bacon, but claimed a tremendous fall in the prices of sugar, kerosene, tea, tapioca and rice, which balanced matters. He (Mr. Laurenson) had written to the author and suggested that he should make calculations concerning the cost to a family. "The milk question," Mr. Laurenson continued, "ought to be deal* with by municipalities. I know I am on thin ice now, but I am not afraid. The farmer will tell you that if he can get sevenpence a gallon throughout the year he is getting a good price. If you take a city like Wellington, assuming the population to be 80,000, the consumption ot milk would average a quarter of a pint per (lay. If the milk is sold at lOd per gallon there is 3d for distribution, which would give a vary bi« revenue. Eight or ten milk carts will go to each street under our competitive system—a silly one, I call it—but under a municipal system the cost of distributing would be reduced by 75 per cent. I know the milk distributing fraternity will be up against me, but that doesn't matter,"