THE COST OF LIVING.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13743, 26 May 1910, Page 6

THE COST OF LIVING.

Tbo announcement that the upward movement in the cost of living has penetrated even into the barbers' shops, and that a "hair-cut" is to cost iv future a shilling instead of sixpence, is merely another straw that tells how the wind is blowing. If wo are on the upward slopo of another wave of prosperity the rise is accompanied by a very, definite advance in prices, which will account for something of the added gains of those who will benefit by the advent of better times, and will hit people with

small fixed salaries very bard. Th? promi.se of a sulhstantial increase in the price of boots and shoes in the near future is no pleasant news for the bends of families just at the of winter. The increase in the cost of leather has, it appears, been poing on for some time. According to one New Zealand manufacturer

farmers are now receiving a penny per pound more for raw hides than lie paid for good leather some years ago. and Australian manufacturers assert that leather quoted a few months a-Ro at Id per pound is no v.- at mere- than 7<l, and is still ndrancin;. The demand tor leather is world-wide and is

increa.sing every year, and there is no corresponding increase in the sources of supply. tJust now the difficulty is accentuated by the removal of tho duty on raw hides entering the United Stater., which has had the effect of inducing enormous importations. In England leather is so ecarce that large quantities are now being drawn from America, the imports from that country in January last being double the amount recorded in the same month last year. Another article which threatens to become more expen-r-ivo is cotton. As the result of the devastating frC&t recently

experienced in tho cotton-grov. - ing States of America this year's cro,". 1 will bo short, and a heavy increase in the cost of cotton goods is nno of the possibilities ot the near future. New Zealand householders may experience a rise in the price of meat before long if some southern predictions are verified, and Euro-

pean authorities predict something like - famine in sugar. Ir. fact, parents of families may be excused if they open their daily pacers nowadays with some trepidation, wondering what new- additional expense awaits them. Tho position is as remarkable as it is unpleasant, for in the cases mentioned the increased cost is not due to the manipulations of rings and trusts, but to tho operation of natural laws that nothing can affect. Tho situation effers a strong inducement to many to live the very sim,ple life. It also suggests the urgent necessity for the Government to keep down the public expenditure to the lowest point compatible with efficiency. Even the poorest has to pay some share tef tho cost of government, and the present is certainly not the time for tho Government to easo off in the matter of retrenchment.