HOUSEWIFE'S POUND.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1920, Page 4

HOUSEWIFE'S POUND.

WHAT IT BUYS TO-DAY. TAIUNAKI THE CHEAPEST PROVINCE. According to tin 1 Government Statistician's latest figures (October), New Plymouth is, for :ho iirsi time, given as the cheapest town in New Zealand for groceries, ami this al.-o indicates thM Taranuki is the cheapest province. A record is not compiled for other Taranaki towns, but as the retail price is governed by the wholesale cost, and as llawera and the other centres buy through the same channels as New Plymouth, their prices are proportionately low.

It is interesting to note what expense would be incurred by the housewife today who goes to town in New Zealand to buy groceries, dairy produce and meat with a basket constructed in July, of 11)14, to carry a sovereign's worth of supplies. Her experiences would be somewhat varied, and if tho various towns can be imagined as competing tradesmen the charge for the goods costing £1 in 1914, would run as follows:

In answer to "How much please?" Timarn would reply, '"Has Sd, madam. This is not as high as Palmerston North, where they will charge you 30s (id for that lot." Invereargill bids 34s (id, but Nelson interjects: "Live in perpetual sunshine and fill your basket for 33s lOd." "Shop in the capital for 34s lid" is Wellington's slogan, but Auckland advises the. prospective customer—"Come north and buy at 33s (id." The buyer would naturally be somewhat perplexed by the efforts of each centre to outdo the other, but if the Government Statistician's advice was sought, she would look up his latest record and immediately pronounce judgment in favor of Taraitaki, finding New Plymouth's quotation to he .'l2s Trfd.