COST OF LIVING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 67, 18 March 1916, Page 8

COST OF LIVING.

INACTION OP f ; ANOTHER JffiMBEB FEOTE§I<« :^ (By Telegrapli.-epecUt w-a^j^ , -' CHRISTCHCBCa,'thia%S * Addressing railway men at Addhiztin " v Mr. Ell, M.f., referring to' tfie eoS ". living, said he did not -woiider ! _4h»i;s ' people were complaining of .the tirjifig, 'r of the Government in exerejemgipowji, I >. given to them five months ago. had done nothing. They had h»i iu-C this time to appoint men and take.&J of the powers given thci£ 7ar as the private membeia of?s£■&.-'■ ''■■■• ment were concerned, they could'only * protest and tell the Government whit v-* ought to do. So far as he wag concerted the Government had not in this patter. We could not control-' ' the rise in prices, but more couli^'"> done to control the exploitation going'id ' Only the previous day he h»d heirdbf ■ a butter ring in the North Island forcuW"' up the price of butter beyond wbi£th*/could get when they put it on .the* , wharves. It was pure exploitation. : Jli? was a case in which the Governmentshould step in. The Government couidddo it if it liked. In respect to me»t' there was nothing to prevent the-Gov-V ernment stepping in and buying -"from farmers at fair prices. It could do-the same in rega/d to wheatT and, if necei-/ sary, they cbuld mill wheat thernselreV or arrange for it to be milled. Jf the bakers formed a ring, there was power under the existing laws for the Stat£-*o ' step in* and arrange for bread to 1 ' hebaked and sold to the people atJeJan , price. AH these powers existed Witfcett calling Parliament together. Yet .Government had not exercised them. "People' had grave cause to complain. The Gov»" ernment could have bought afl thewheit; in New Zealand a short time ago it 4/6 a buehely farmers would have been satisfied, and wheat would not have gone upto the price it is. " -■-'.' Regarding taxation, Sir. £31 said he: ' regretted to say. but believed .it %i«' ; I true, that our Budget .last "time 'trag? , ■ conceived in fear of the possibilities of : - what the electors might say. ernment had not got at the men making the greatest wealth in the caontry. v I"ill-" honour to the men who had given.to'tHcC war funds, but what were they to-'db : 'isi\.' .■= regard to thousands of wealthy men who had not contribute!. He believed'yin-a ■ compulsory levy on wealth, to, get it 1 these men. . -"v ■ ,;. : - " ■