H.—lli
1903. NEW ZEALAND.
COMPARATIVE PRICES OF COMMODITIES IN 1893 AND 1903 (REPORT BY THE SECRETARY OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT RESPECTING).
Laid on the Table by leave of the House.
REPORT CONCERNING COMPARATIVE PRICES OF COMMODITIES IN 1899 AND 1903.
Department of Labour, Wellington, 4th September, 1903. I have made inquiries among traders in Wellington as to the prices of the necessaries of life ten years ago and at the present day. There were few retail shopkeepers able to supply such figures, as in most cases price-lists and sale-accounts ten years old had been either lost sight of or were difficult of access. From those which were reliable I find as follows, the detailed prices being also attached: — Rise in price from 1898 to 1903. Per cent. House-rent has risen (in Wellington) at least ... ... ... ... 25 Meat (portions commonly ordered) rose ... ... ... ... 30 Coal (in quarter-tons, the common order) ... ... ... ... 10 Firewood, cut into blocks ... ... ... ... ... ... 50 Men's clothes (to order) ... ... ... ... ... ... 16 Timber, sawn for house-building ... ... ... ... ... 40 Ham, bacon, eggs ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 25 Flour, being a commodity very dependent on supply, has fluctuated from £8 to £14 a ton— the present average being about £10 7s. 6d.—and can hardly be considered stable enough to enter into a comparative statement. Bread also, depending on the price of flour, has ranged from 2id. to 3£d. for the 2 lb. loaf. Oatmeal is about the same price as in 1893. Tea, through the remission of 4d. per pound duty three years ago has fallen 3d. to 6d. per pound. Rice, sago, tapioca, sugar, jam, dried fruits, currants, raisins, and kerosene are all slightly cheaper than in 1893. There is little difference in ten years in the average price of tobacco, factory-made clothes, and boots. Edward Tregear, Secretary.
List of Houses in Te Aro District showing Rent Paid in 1893 and 1903. 1893. 1903. £ s. d. £ s. d. Three rooms (same house) ... ... ... ... ...090 0 12 0 ..080 0 10 0 ... 0 7 0 0 8 6 ... 0 5 0 0 7 0 ... 0 10 0 0 10 0 • . „ ... . ... ... ... ... 0 5 0 0 7 6 ... ... ... ... 0 6 0 0 7 0 070 0 8 6 ... 0 8 0 0 9 0 ... 0 .9 0 0 11 0 Four rooms (same house) ... ... ... ... ... 0 15 0 0 17 0 ... 0 13 0 0 15 0 ... 0 11 0 0 13 0 ... 0 15 0 0 16 0 Six rooms (same house)... ... ... ... ...0 16 0 100 ... 1 0 0 12 6 ... 1 1 0 15 0 [Note. —These are comparatively old houses, upon which little or no improvements have been made. New houses of the same number of rooms are let at higher rents, as there are more conveniences, for which the tenant has to pay.]
H. —IIF
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Relative Prices of Butchers' Meat, &c, for 1893 and 1903. Beef. 1893. 1903. s. d. s. d. Sirloin, per pound ... ... ..-. ... ... 0 4| 06 Prime ribs, „ ... ... ... ... ... 0 4 0 5 Rump-steak, „ ... ... ... ... ... 0 7 0 8 Ox-tongues, each ... ... ... ... ... 2 6 2 6 Gravy-beef, per pound ... ... ... ... 0 4 0 5 Brisket, „ ... ... ... ... ... 0 2i 0 3$ Back and top ribs, „ ... ... ... ... ... 0 3 0 3i Corned round, „ ... ... .... ... ... 0 1 0 6 Ox kidneys, each ... .. ... . . ... 0 6 0 6 Corned briskets, per pound ... ... ... ... ... 0 2 0 3J Mutton. Hindquarters, per pound ... ... ... ... ... 0 .'ii 0 I. 1 , Fore „ „ ... ... ... ... ... 0 2| 0 3| Legs, „ ... ... ... ... ... 0 4 0 5 Chops, „ ... ... ... ... ... 0 4 0 6 Kidneys, each ... ... ... ...01 01 Shoulders, per pound ... ... ... ... ... 0 3 0 1 Loins, - „ ... ... ... ... ... 0 4 0 5 Cutlets, „ ... ... ... ... ... 0 5 0 8 Pork. Per pound ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 5 0 8 Bread. There is little difference in the price—2lb. loaf, lid. to 3-J-d. Goal. A quarter ton ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 0 10 0 Firewood,. Cut blocks, per bag .. .... ... ... ... ... 1 0 -16 Timber. KW mime Par 100 superficial feet. Mea 'P me - 189 8. 1903. '£ s. d. £ r. d. Ordinary building ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 9 0 0 12 6 8 in. by fin. ... ... ... ... 0 6 0 9 7 6 Tongued and grooved, 6 in. by f in. ... ... ... ... 0 11 6 0 15 C 6 in. and 8 in. by 1 in. ... ... ... 0 11 8 0 16 0 Mntni Per 100 lineal feet. matM - 1893. 1903. £ s. d. £ s. d. 0.8. rustic and flooring ... ... ... ... ... 0 12 6 0 17 0 jr n , llr A Par 100 superficial feet. T ■ 1893. 1903. £ s. d. £ s. d. Heart, sawn ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 19 0 14 0 Tongued and grooved, 6 in. by 1 in. .. ... ... ... 0 19 0 17 0 Dressed, 12 in. by 1 in. ..'. ... ... ... ... 0 19 0 17 0 12in. by tin. ... ... ... ... .." 016 0 110 To tar a. Heart, sawn ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 16 0 12 0 Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing(l,2socopies), £1 9s.
By Authority : John Maokay, Government Printer. Wellington.—l9o3. Price 3d.]
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Bibliographic details
COMPARATIVE PRICES OF COMMODITIES IN 1893 AND 1903 (REPORT BY THE SECRETARY OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT RESPECTING)., Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1903 Session I, H-11f
Word Count
782COMPARATIVE PRICES OF COMMODITIES IN 1893 AND 1903 (REPORT BY THE SECRETARY OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT RESPECTING). Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1903 Session I, H-11f
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