COST OF LIVING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 53, 2 March 1916, Page 7

COST OF LIVING.

THE DWINDLING SOVEREIGN. WHY DO THE CITIES VARY? The rise in the price of butter, which operates on Monday next, means another Id per pound, says the "New Zealand Times." It does not matter what the quality of the butter is, whether it is the choicest that the fat pastures of Taranaki will yield or that semi-trans-lucent, doubtful-looking quantity which is fairly and honourable sold as an inferior butter —all move up Id per pound on Monday. In a house using four pounds of butter a week, that means 4i extra for butter, with most probably no extra income or wages or salary to meet the increased cost on the weekly food bill. Of course, it is only 4d a week more, and "that will neither make you nor break." to use a well-known argument. But there, are other increases of twopences and threepences and fourpences and more weekly, ever recurring increases.

The Government Statistician (Mr. M. Fraser) resting in the security of the eloquence of his figures, makes no comment, but just lets his tables tell their own story of tho effect of these rises on the incomes of people, living in the four centres. Ho is extremely careful in the collection of his data, and an examination of his periodical price lists shows tbat the official prices are a shade, if anything, under the actual 'over-the-counter prices. Mr. Fraser, in his statistics in the January summary, shows that wlrat the sovereign bought in the period between the years 1909 and 1913 in the four centres, now costs (during the quarter ended 31st December last) an average of 23/21- Put in another way, a man in the six-yearly period abovo stated, who was receiving £3 a week, and has had no rise, is, by reason of the increased cost of loving, only receiving £2 10/51 per week, taking tho average of the four centres. But in Wellington, according to Mr. Frascr.'hc is worse off than in any other of the four cities. The "comparison is as follows: —

1-09-I.'!. Dec, 1913. s. d. R. d. Anrkland _ 20 0 22 9 Wellington 20 O 25 3 Christchurch 20 O 22 10 Dunedin 20 0 21 11 It costs 25/3 to buy in Wellington what you can get for 21/11 in Dunedin jf _\x. Fraser be correct —and it has to be borne in mind that his scientific reputation and official position rest upon the accuracy of his figures. Put in another form, this is the position of £3 per week in Wellington and the other three cities ■who ha« had no rise since the period 1909-1913:— Wages. 1909-13. Dec, 1915. Auckland £3 £2 11 9 Wellington 3 2 4 3 Christchurch 3 2 11 6 I Dunedin ,3 214 3