THE COST OF LIVING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 148, 21 June 1912, Page 4

THE COST OF LIVING.

The inquiry into the recent increase „ in the cost of living opened vesterfav , in Auckland, and the Commission bas ■ already made iome npon zh*i ( tons list of queries contained in its . order of reference. C'ertainiv neither . the Commissioner- nor the seneral public C3n fairly complain that the J series of topics to be discussed is undrtfy I limited. The extent of the riso in rent, food, clothing, lighting and fuel, house- , ! hold necessaries, medical attendance-1 , ' and education; the influence exercised ' ion the co?t >if living br trusts and I . ! combines, tariffs, price of land, labour ] legislation—all these subjects are to be i investigated separately. Beyond this. . the effects of a, higher standard oi , ! living, of tie movements o: population . lin urban and rnral districts, and of the . j fall in the value ot sold due to the i increa-ed output, are all to be taken ( , into account. The CommKiion i= then . j retjuirsd to -nmmarise it- evidence !! in -Mch form as to answer this . , J question. '-"What causes generally have , brought abfwt the Increased '-o-t of lir- . i ?n££?** :ind "o wh01 ,3 proced- .; ing it is called upon to rwommend "steps • j that should b<" taken with a. view toj ; redncins the cost of th-e necessaries oi , J Life." It is certainty a oTutpUcated and : arduous task that trie Commission has j . j undertaken, and it U oovroosly Lmpos1 3rWe' for it to compile a resort that; , would have any real value within tne j i very -canty limits of time first suggested. | ; But if onoaga ;sw i= allowed for tie ] j Commission :o csanilnc a coasiderible r.uznher of witnesses and to ?ive their | evidence dno cor:-"iJerat:on, the outoome | of iite labours should b-e a document of i i £reat public interest, a stock j of material that must prove of ffreat. and, ! penaaiw nt value to our legislators. We j trust that the Commission wilt not be ! inclined to confine rtseif too cioselv to questions about retail and wholesale , pricey and the ac'u.a! ' v o-:t of the ner-e?!----.'sarie.-. of life. For it i= or.'y by rezardii'i , thr problems of from .1 cosmopoli-j tan standpoint and by rakin; .-nto a.-j .<' I'M jucl"! World-wide influences as van-] atioii- in *Jne Told supply, that any .sound : ''ronclaisions on th<^ c subjects be i reached: and it is to ne hoped that tlie ; '•'>mTci.--s , on *iH hfur th.s Important ■ truth '-irei'iily in mind.