THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 1912. COST OF LIVING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10653, 7 June 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 1912. COST OF LIVING.

Does anybody really .think that the Commission- which has been :,set up by the Mackenzie 'Ministry to investigate the question' of the cost of living will produce any immediate and valuable results? This Comniissioin Jca-a until the end of the present month in which to take evidence and bring down, its report. The evidence so far .taken is not by any means illuminating. A, nunrber of persons 'interested infithe coail and other industries have been summoned before .the Commission ,',and have testified that no rings or .combines exist which .tret cadculiated to act as'a aiestraim't to (trade.' Members of 'Labour. Unions have been called, and iKrve.dficjfared that the ; co.3t ef'iiv< i'ng 'ib imueh tfoig'her tbauliti used Aq* 'be Other : witnesses will no doubt .cori;o'boj.ate thiSistateraent and endeavour to explain, the cause. 'But when it is all said and done, and the Domiiridn has <paid several thousands of pounds for a report, how .much better off wiM. the people ibe? Supposing, for instance, that the Commission finds that t'he.Labour Trust is respoisibie for an increase in the price of cc.mm<aditias, will the Hon. 'i'. Mackenzie bring dowai! a measiire to prohibit Trades Unionism? • Oil- assuming that it is foiled that the merchants and middlemen have put their heads together to exploit the consuming public, will" this Ministry introduce legislation to .render | commercial combines illegal? Again*'supposing it be established be- , yond reasonable doubt that the, fiscal . •system is responsible f or the increased cost df living, will Mir Mackenzie; be prepared to 'wipe out the- Protective tariff? These are questions which have an important'hearing upon 'the work of the Commission. There are other issues involved, such as the standard of living in the present day. But these .will be-more diifficult to-de-termine than. <#he questions of .trusts, combines and .tariffs. J.f .it he found that the cost of .living has increased in consequence of the extravagances of the people, will Mr Mackenzie take steps to prohibit railway excursions, •and picture-diows, and race meetings,

ami bazaars, and .motor-cars, and hobble skirts, and such like v The increase imay ibe found ito bo duo in a measure to the higher .standard cf living in other countries. Will Mr Mackenzie bring down a Bill compel Hug • ; the peoples of the United Kingdom and America to live more economically? There are boundless possiLQities attending the Cost of Liv-img Commission., But these arc- days of probabilifias. And the one thing that is mm-Q probable than any other iis ■that ,the report ai the Commission will eventually find its way into a imiutseum for antiquities, and the,name of Mi Mackenzie will go uown to posterity as that of the politician, who endeavoured to miaka himself aiimons. by h:s "sins of "commission,"!