The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 1912. THE COST OF LIVING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 300, 15 June 1912, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 1912. THE COST OF LIVING.

Working under the disability of what is evidently an organised conspiracy of silence on the part of the merchants, the Cost of Living Commission has already elicited some very significant facts. For i many years past there has been a lot of more or less cheap talk concerning tke existence of rings' and trusts in various industries, from the fish trade to tie bottle and bones profession. The public has listened and laughed and ignored these pleasantries, and has gone on its way apparently quite satisfied to pay 25s for a pair of American boots made in Ohristchurch at a cost of 10s fid or to buy an English redingote at three guineas which was composed at a coit of £1 3s ll%d in the Chinese quarter in Wellington. This is a matter that ought to be probed to the very end, «•- pecially in view of the calm admission of a large firm of boot manufacturer* in Christchurch that the false branding of locally-made boots was due to a demand created by the retailer and b,, the public. We are extremely careful to see that our frozen meat and dairy produce are properly branded for tne foreign market, and surely it is equally necessary to protect ourselves nearer home. It is unbearable to think ttiat the working man should be paying 4$ «r 50 per cent, of the price of hig purchase* into the hands of either the manufaetnrer or the retailer. A parental Government which has reduced the eustogai duty upon the necessities of life ■• materially during the last fifteen yeans will simply render its action futile if it does not inoist upon putting a atop te> anything in the nature of a ring or a trust, having for its object the undue exploitation of the people. Quite the most significant feature of the enquiries of the Commission, outside the uncontradicted statements of a number of tke witnesses, has been the refusal, under legal advice, of the merchants of Dunedin and Christchurch to give evidence. To the ordinary mind, in the absence, of other explanation, this can only convey' one impression. It has induced the averago man to sit up and think hard, and even if the merchants should deem ii wise to reconsider their determination they will have great difficulty in removing the uneasy feeling that has already been created. We are not prepared to I accept the obiter dicta of Tom, Dick and Harry in a matter of this sort, but in their own interests, the merchant! and

manufacturers and large retailers ought to take steps to voluntarily meet the allegations that have been made. If 1 they are not prepared to do so there will be an overwhelming demand from the people that the Government should invest the commission with full power to c impel evidence upon oath. There are :u,'<,ny cases, of course, where .the details ui private business ought not to be compulsorily declared, but the laissez faire attitude of the first line of defence in the manufacture and distribution of supplies is a quite impossible attitude for the army of suppliers to adopt. It will not satisfy the suspicions of the people, and those concerned cannot afford to maintain it. The country must have a complete refutation of the charges that have been made, or it will undoubtedly accept them as heing correct. The increased cost of living has become a matter of serious moment to a very large proportion of the population, and that material section of the community will not be satisfied with abstract theorising upon industrial and political economy. It wants to know why the street arab should pay ninepence for his "pennorth of pudding," and it will not ba satisfied until it does know.