LOWER PRICES.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1920, Page 5

LOWER PRICES.

MANY THINGS CHEAPER.

PREMIER'S HOPEFUL REVIEW.

MORE RELIEF AFTER CHRISTMAS.

(By Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. The Prime Minister yesterday referred in a vague way to legislation which had not been thought of till a day or two ago, and when ithe House of Representatives met to-day, Mr. H. E. Holland (Buller) asked whether the legislation of an important character thus forecasted was in connection with 'the bonus granted by the Court on the cost of living, and what was its,.charaeter.

The Prime Minister said that the question was one which he could not answer. The matter was still tinder consideration, and he did not expect to have it finally settled till Monday or Tuesday of next week.

Mr. Holland: 'lt is not in connection with the Arbitration Court!"

The Prime Minister.: "I did not say that. If the hon. gentleman has got it in his mind that it is meant to go back on the decision of Mr. Justice Stringer he can get rid of the idea, for that is not intended."

Mr. J. McCombs (Lyttelton) asked if the Government, in view of the recent proceedings of the Arbitration Court, would immediately introduce legislation to enable the Court to make the cost of living bonuses operative simultaneously throughout New Zealand, and the bonuses should be based on the current prices the workers had to pay, instead of the average prices for the previous six months.

The Prime Minister replied Mat the Judge had said that the bonus would be paid unless good cause was shown to the contrary. "I may say at once that [ cannot think that the figures are correct," added the Premier. "I am asking my colleagues to have the figures looked into by thoroughly competent men. I cannot see that 'there has been an increase in the cost of living just recently." Potatoes, he went, on, were about one-third of the price of last year, and everybody ate potatoes. He had heard of 15 tons of potatoes sold in the pit for Is a cwt. ■Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central): ''The retailer does not get the benefit." Mr. Massey said that when prices had fallen so low as this it must follow that there was a fall all over New Zealand. He had noticed advertisements of tea reduced by 6d a lb. It was reported that the bottom had fallen out of the hides market, and that hides were practically unsaleable. That meant a reduction in the price of leather and subsequently of boots. Then they all knew about the position of crossbred wool. There was a decrease already in the cost of living. He did not say an all round decrease'. He saw a suggestion made by a business man that there would be a big reduction in the cost of clothes after Christmas. It <ras suggested that tradespeople would try to get the most they could for the Christmas trade, and after that the prices would come down. He thought that already they were round the corner, and that, they might look for a decrease in the coat of living. He did not know how it would affect the country's business in other directions, but it would give relief in that way.

INDUSTRY AND THE BONUS. QUESTION IN THE COUNCIL. Wellington, Last Night. Jn the Legislative Council this afternoon, the Hon. G. J. Smith asked the Attorney-General whether the Government would consider the effect of the recent award of the increased cost of living bonus on the industries of .the Dominion, and endeavor to find some way of assisting industries to pay the bonus, and so save numbers from having to close down.

Sir Francis Bell replied that the matter was receiving the very earnest consideration of the Government, but he could not say anything more at present. FALL IN AUSTRALIA. CLOTHING LTNES CHEAPER. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Nov. f>, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 5. Wholesale soft goods houses are reducing prices by fifteen to itwenty per cent, in Manchester goods, cotton, and woollen goods. It is explained that owing to a falling-off in the demand holders are anxious to reduce stock?.-—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.