COST OF LIVING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 246, 15 October 1917, Page 4

COST OF LIVING.

—_ COMMITTEE'S PROPOSALS FIXING PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS, SUBURBAN TRAIN SERVICES. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.'T WELLINGTON, this day. The Cost of Living Committee will report to the House to-night, recommend- | ing the appointment of a Food Control Minister, with special plenary powers to | prevent the increase of prices where ttoy are not justified to his satisfaction, to fix the maximum wholesale and retail 'prices of goods throughout New Zealand, ito regulate the retail prices of the local ' products to New Zealand consumers by I purchase at ruling export prices, and disI tributing them at such lower prices as the Controller thinks fit, the loss to be met out of the Consolidated Fund. I The committee suggests that the duty would be cast upon the Labour Department to check unfair increases of rents by investigating cases and prosecuting, if "necessary. The committee being of opinion that the curtailment of suburban train services has been a factor in increasing city rents, urges the reinstatement of such ' services as will enable suburban residents : to attend to their occupations and reach their homes without serious difficulty. I Other suggestions include the estabilishment of State-controlled co-operative steamers in the overseas, intercolonial, i and Islands trade, that retail co-opera--1 tive societies be encouraged, that the fish, ■ ing industry be developed, that the pre-l-sent unnecessary wasteful cost of distribution and middlemen's profits be eliminated wherever possible, that the commercial Trusts Act apply to any goodt whatsover.