COST OF LIVING.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1917, Page 8

COST OF LIVING.

HARDSHIPS OF SMALL-WAGES MEN. Lately ve have boon at some pains to inquire into the condition of people living upon a small wage (says (lie Dnnedin Star). We take the following as typical of a multitude of cases. The facts arc Riven plainly, without any embellishment, because they are drawn from actual life:—A married man with four children (employed in the - Public Service and residing in some part of this Dominion) receives a salary of £l4O a year. Two of his children are twins, born ten months ago, and his wife is far from robust. The man is a hardworking, faithful servant of the State. After paving his contribution to the Kupcr-annuation fund and his National Provident levy he lias £lO 10s a month with which to face the problem of liv. ing. His rent is 8s Cd for a very humble dwelling indeed. Milk at 2y 2 d a pint costs him ll'/sd a day—an allowance which cannot very well be reduced "with four small children to feed. Meat costs between 30s and 40s a month, coal 15s, bread and groceries £4 lus. The arrival of the twins forced upon him nn exceptional expense which he could not meet out of his current wages, and he was consequently thrown into the hands of the money-lender. Interest and instalment repayments of principal absorb 15s a month. Ho indulged in what was perhaps a luxury—namely, a "pram"—which, purchased on the. hire system, costs him Is a month. These items added up amount to nearly £l2 a month. Thus there is a deficit of '£l a month on food and rent, without making any provision for clothing and boots and all the incidental expenses associated with care for the health and education of children. The man has been unable to mftko ,-C!0 16s lOd a month meet the needs of his family, and he is sinking further and further in dpbt. We felt a lump rising in our throat when, after relating these tilings pnd pointing out the never-ending demand for small coins for school requisites, he told the tale of an accident that, had befallen one!-of his children, necessitating an operation, and sympathy was not lessened when he spoke of the strain upon his wife: "It is the knowledge that the constant worry and anxieties arising out of our struggle.to make ends meet that are slowly but surely undermining her health, and are handicapping her already in the management and maintenance of her young family."