COST OF LIVING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 317, 5 July 1912, Page 5

COST OF LIVING

EVIDENCE IX WELLINGTON. By Telegraph—Plena Association. Wellington, Thursday. Giving evidence before the Cost of Living Commission, Fergus T. Mclndo, shipping agent. Westport, said that the transport of coal from Westport was in the hands of a monopoly. The Union, Anchor, and Maori-land Shipping Companies were the principal shippers of coal from the West Coast, and seemed to have a working arrangement whereby they could get the carrying for specific portions of the Dominion coast. The cost of coa! had undoubtedly been raised apart from this, but it hindered the free distribution of coal, The carriage of coal affected coast and inward freights into the West Coast, and that district paid from 30 to 40 per cent, more than it should <ln under legitimate trade. The cost of travel was also rendered excessive to Wcstlanders. The passenger traffic was concentrated into the Union Company, the rest of the vessels being only freighters. Five years ago the navy on the Australian station decided to draw on new coal. They were accommodated on a c.i.f. basis. Sydney, which meant 'carry-in? it on the Union Company's boats. Witness was largely instrumental in getting them to add f.o.b. as an alternative, allowing other shipping to participate.in the carrying, and a reduction in freight to the navy resulted. If the same thing was done in regard to the a-eneral coal shipping of New Zealand cheaper fuel would result to the people. Westport port charges were the cheapest in the world, being Id per ton net register. Mr. Moriarty. secretary of the Furniture Workers' Union, said that wages had gone up during the last fifteep years from (is a dav to Is 4d' an hour. The chairman: A big change for the good. Witness: I don't say that, considering the cost of living. The average earnings would be £3 a week. Auckland wages in the trade were the cheapest in New Zealand. Auckland cabinetmakers' advertisements were in the Wellington papers offerinsr furniture cheaper here than it could be boncht in Wellington, with carriage and freight paid.