THE COST OF LIVING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 71, 24 March 1915, Page 6

THE COST OF LIVING.

ALLEGED EXPLOITATION. AUCKLAND FIRM'S PROFITS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI. Tuesday. At a meeting of the 'Whangarei Borough Council, Mr. It. H. Harrison, in moving that the Council support tho i Runanga Council's protest to the Gov- ; ernment against the increased prices of ! commodities, said lie knew that in Auckland city a firm was making an extra profit of over £0,000 per moiitn, while the commodity concerned was not costing any more than it did previous to the war. He had documentary evidence from the manager, written at the outset of hostilities, stating that there were ample stocks, and that the manager knew of no reason why any shortage in the firm's commodity need be feared. That firm had been allowed to make its extra profit, and in the face of the Government's powers to deal with prices. Xow, bowever, the Government could not do any- . thing without inflicting hardship on the 'people who had bought new stocks.

The Mayor said he did not think it was for the Council to 6tep in and speak to the Government. Competition was sufficiently keen with regard to the sale of foodstuffs to regulate prices. Mr. Harrison: There is no competition. The Mayor said that, generally speaking, there was competition. Mr. Harrison said there had been a | rise in the price of flour of 4"l> per ton, ' and in the price oi sugar of £5 per ton. The sugar industry was absolutely with- | out competition in Xew Zealand, and it was in the power of the Government to control th c supply. He knew a firm of millers who were making a profit of approaching £10,000 per month out of the rise in the price of flour. In the face of that, he thought it was the duty of every local body to make a protest. The motion was rejected. THE PRICE OF MILK. A WELLINGTON DISPUTE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The Wellington City retail milk vendors are up in arms against a proposal of the Farmers' Association to increase th e price of milk to retailers. The Farmers' Association comprises between 200 and 300 members, supplying something like 3,000 gallons daily to the city. The association fixe"! the price of milk 12 months ahead, and in October last a circular was issued fixing the following prices:—October 1 to February 28, 6jd. per gallon; March 1 to April 30, Bd.; May 1 to August 31. lOd. In addition, the purchaser had to pay a freight of over Id. per gallon. The farmers now ask for lOd. per gallon for April, and in a recent circular members of the Association are advised to mak P no arrangements for the future, as a further rise is anticipated

The Retailers'" Association objects to) paying the increased price, and has in- ! formed the Farmers' Association that it intends to keep to the terms of the arrangement already made with the suppliers to pay Bd. per gallon and no more. There is. therefore, a prospect of a struggle between the -producers and the retailers, with the results inconvenient for the general public. The present Tetail price in the city is 4d. per quart, or 1/4 per gallon, reduced to 1/ per gallon in the case of large quantities. HAMILTON BAKER PROSECUTED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, this day. "It appears that while the cost of living is going up, the weight of bread is going down," commented Senior-Sergeant Cassells at the Hamilton S.M. Cqurt yesterday, when Gustav Gass, baker, was charged with selling light-weight bread. Six loaves were purchased at defendant's shop, which were from to 21 ounces below weight. His Worship said it was the duty of purveyors of bread to inform the purchaser of the weight. It was bad enough the rate of living going up without the weight of bread going down at the same rate. A fine of 20/ and costs was imposed. DISCUSSION AT MOUNT ALBERT. The increase in the price of foodstuffs is the subject of a strongly worded resolution which has been passed by the Runanga Borough Council, and w"hich was considered by the Monnt Albert Borough Council last night. The resolution called upon the Government to do something in the matter. The Monnt Albert Council sympathised with the spirit of the resolution, but thought it impossiblet to do anything to relieve the situation. It was decided to acknowledge the letter, and to point out that ft! question as to whether local bodies could do anything to provent the cty} of living from increasing was quite another matter. "