Cost of Living.

Waikato Argus, Volume XXIV, Issue 3757, 14 April 1908, Page 2

Cost of Living.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Where, in New Zealand, is it best for the wage earner to live? In the April number of the Labour Journal an attempt is made to contrast the cost of living in the four centres and the secondary towns, and it appears that Wellington does not believe its reputation as the dearest place of ab:xle. The figures give the position on March 1. In rents the capital eity is easily supreme; in bread and flour the centres are all on a level, but there is a divergence in many other lines. Following are a few differences, the figures being respectively for Auckland. Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin: — Butter, factory, Is 3d, Is to Is sd, Is 4d, Is 3d; jam, first grade, sd, (id, sd, sd; treacle, 41b tin, 4s, 4a 6d, 4s, 3s 9d; tea average, Is, Is 9d, Is Gd, ls8d; kerosene, 3s 9d, 4s 3d, 4s 6d, 4s; potatoes, 141b, Is, Is 3d, Is, Is. in meat there is little difference between the centres. Wellington is slightly the cheapest if anything. Boots are lowest in Auckland, and Dunedin comes next, but the margins for the comparatively low grade sort, selected as a unit of comparison, are not very formidable. There is an impression here that for the better class of boot and shoe, Wellington is considerably more costly than the other centres. It is submitted, too, that clothing bills make sadder reading in Wellington, than elsewhere. The capital has a few minor advantages over the sister cities, but, "when all the numbers"are hoisted" living here is a more expensive process than it is in Auckland, Christchurch, or Dunedin. In Auckland, apparently, th e worker should be in the happiest mood, but then enters the matter of wages which are reported to be lower as a rule in Auckland than in Wellington and Christchurch if not Dunedin.