THE COST OF LIVING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 205, 27 February 1914, Page 4

THE COST OF LIVING.

Some Interesting comments 011 the cost of living have recently appeared in the Canadian papers. At the annual me>.iin# of the Canadian Bank of Commerce, Sir I'Mnmnd Walker said tlmt for some years the world had been more extravagant than in any period known to history since Roman times, and this extravagance had been accompanied by a rise in prices which had made it very hard [or those who are not extravagant, and who are most regular in saving money in ordinary times, to put toy the usual margin against life's contingencies. Speaking of Canada, Sir Edmund U'alkcr justified the large productive investments tlml have ibeen made, lint deprecated ''the extravagance of individuals, represented by motor-cars, palat'al .houses and social display." Coincident with the address there appeared an interesting statement from a dealer in beef cattle and meat. He said that the high price of butcher meat of a certain quality was largely due to the fact that the cheaper cuts are not so saleable as they used to be. Sirloin, porterhouse and other high-class steaks are sold high because many people want them, while the quantity is limited. Hut other steak, which is excellent meat when properly cooked, has not greatly advanced in price. It is noted also that in spite of the high prices of butter and cheese the, quantity used by the people of Canada continues to increase more than tlic population. This, according to the Chief Dairy Commissioner for Canada (Mr. Ruddock) is the reason why the export of butter has fallen off, while the imports have increased. He finds from the census that the Canadian pro. duction of butter increased from 141,000,0001b to 203,000,00011) in the census period. The exports fell off from 10,000,000 to 5,000,000, and there was a slight increase in the relatively small imports. The total consumption increased from 231b to '2Blb per head of population. Another calculation by Iw. Ruddock takes in all dairy products and shows on the 'basis of pounds of milk that tho consumption per head increased by over 25 por cent, between 1900 and 1910.