H.—lB.

This table includes only food and rent, and shows an increase of 20 per cent, in the cost of these, as against an increase of about 34 per cent, for the same items in Professor Segar's budget for Auckland. The Auckland budget shows an increase in food only of about 25 per cent., that for Christchurch about 21 per cent. These figures confirm the general belief that the cost of living, as measured by rent and food, has increased at a more rapid rate during the last fifteen years in Auckland than in Christchurch. As to Wellington, Mr. F. P. Wilson took out from the Official Year-books the prices for that city of some representative articles of consumption. Table B.—lndex Numbers op Wellington Retail Food-prices between 1893-95 and 1908-10. 1893-95. 1908-10. Bread .. .. .. .. .. ..100 113 Flour.. .. .. .. .. .. ..100 116 Beef .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 125 Mutton .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 138 Butter .. .. . . .. .. .. 100 127 Cheese .. .. .. .. .. ..100 122 Potatoes .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 •'••; ! 166 All .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 100'*|/ 130 Rent (for same style of house) . . . . .. .. 100 *f v 111 Rent (for improved style of house, including tram fares) .. * 130-135 13. Your Commission also carefully analysed the evidence provided in the quotations given by consumers and business men, and combined it with the estimates that have appeared in some of the preceding tables. The work has presented immense difficulties, and the result, owing to the incomplete nature of the data, the unsatisfactory methods of obtaining it, and the long period over which the different individual quotations and opinions range, can be regarded as only tentative and roughly approximative. The various items have been weighted in order to allow for their relative importance, according to the proportional consumption shown by the recent inquiry of the Labour Department. The general result is an increased " cost of living " of at least 16 per cent, between the middle and later nineties and the present day. It is to be remembered, of course, that as far as possible allowance has been made for the change in the quality of the articles chosen, especially house-room, and that the " living " whose cost is measured is living at a uniform standard throughout the period and without taking into account changes in the standard of comfort. The influence of the rise in the scale of living is discussed in Chapter V. It may be mentioned, however, that the decrease in the size of the average family since the beginning of the period and the higher average income of the people must have tended to diminish the proportion which food is of their total expenditure, and therefore to reduce the rise of 16 per cent, at which we have arrived. Table 9.—Estimated Increase in the Cost op Living in New Zealand between 1894-98 and 1911. Summarized from evidence tendered to the Commission. (Average weighted according to present relative consumption as shown in Labour Department's inquiry, 1910-11.) 1894-98.* 1911. Bread .. .. .. .. .. ..100 122 Butter and cheese .. . . .. .. .. 100 149 Boots and clothing .. .. .. .. .. 100 119 Sundry foods .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 104 Fuel and light.. .. .. .. .. ..100 97 Meat .. .. .. .. .. ..100 125 Milk .. .. .. .. ..100 100 Vegetables (omitting potatoes) .. .. .. .. 100 100 Rent .. .. .. .. .. ..100 120 Sugar .. .. .. .. .. ..100 88 Tea, coffee, and cocoa .. .. .. .. .. 100 100 All (weighted) .. .. .. .. ..100 116

* Some of the prices accepted are for years outside this quinquennial period.

The changes in the prices of other commodities of importance to the ordinary consumer are described in the next chapter.

XIX