The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1912. THE COST OF LIVING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 89, 31 August 1912, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1912. THE COST OF LIVING.

The comprehensive digest of the report of the Cost of Living Commission, telegraphed yesterday by our Parliamentary correspondent, indicates that this particular .Commission, at any rate. ■ has done its work faithfully and well, and lias collected facts and opinions that ought to be of immense help to those whose business it is to adapt our economic conditions to our necessities. It is a new idea to tlie general public, but undoubtedly a sound one, that under existing conditions the increase or diminution in the supply of the world's gold has a njarked effect on prices, and this should set our domestic politicians studying more carefully the state of the money market. In a further generalisation, the Commission finds that other facts that are affecting the cost of living are the movement of population, labor ! legislation, the development of over-sea markets, and monopolies and combines. It is easy to follow and agree with this finding. The movement of population must necessarily require a readjustment | of prices, labor legislation has raised wages and induced a consequent rise in | the price of food, the development of over-seas markets has shortened the local supply of produce, and trusts and monopolies have created artificial values as part of the exploitation of the people. Then the Commission finds that much of the apparent increased cost of living is really due to an improved standard of living, but this, we take it, must be regarded rather as an evidence of prosperity, for even the average workingman has learned to cut his coat according (o his cloth The Commission lias an interesting reference to the fact that the tendency of the rural population is to flow citywards, which means a decrease in the food-producing population which l;a= to cater for the increasing needs of those engaged in industrial and distributive pursuits, and as a natural remedy for this the Commission urges that the conditions and advantages ol country life should be improved. The protective tarill. it. appears has not been the benefit to the country that it is generally as-

sumed to be, but it will require very con-1 vincing data to satisfy the Government J upon this point before any tariff alterations are considered. As regards those most staple commodities of life fish meat, fruit, bread and milk—the cost of distribution of these has increased out of all proportion to the cost of the articles themselves, and it is suggested that a remedy for this would be for tho municipalities or public organisations to undertake the supervision and distribution of these domestic supplies. The menace of trusts and monopolies, suggests the Commission, should be legislatively dealt with, and should be watched by a special commission. though there is no indication apparently in the report as to on what lines the Government should move. It is obvious, from the evidence given before this Commission, that in purchasing made-up goods the public very often does not get its full ''pennyworth of pudding," and this is an economic leakage that can readily be stopped. Finally, the Commission finds that the high price of landj has not caused the high price of i food, but that the reverse holds, the exploiting of new markets having increased the value of produce, which in turn has enhanced the value of lands. The whole report iis an illuniinative commentary 1 l on our ..social crinditi'Djis, and should proJ vidp material fo.r careful study by every i householder and tradesman in the country. Ij; is an elaborate compendium, illustrated by copious facts and figures, which will materially assist Parliament , i in its discussion of domestic legislation.