COST OF LIVING.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16479, 24 March 1919, Page 6

COST OF LIVING.

THE QUESTION OF STATISTICS. The Hon. G. AV. Russell. Minister of Internal Affairs, was ashed yesterday by a "Press"' reporter if he had any statement to make with regard to tho methods used by the Government Statistician for estimating the rise and fall in tho "cost of living." It was pointed out to the Minister, as has boon pointed out several times in articles in "'iho Piess," that tiio cost of living indiccs as issued by tho Statistician, really woro not a reliable guide at all, for tlicy did not —and could not very well —tako into consideration any oconomies which might bo practised by a householder. The Statistician's figures could be relied upon to compare the percentage increases, say, of Britain and New Zealand, but it did not necessarily throw any light on how the increases were actually affocting householders. Mr Rtossoll said he fully appreciated the point which had been made, and he belioved Mr Malcolm Fraser did also. He (tho Minister), however, could not tako it on himself to criticise tho methods used by his officer in compiling theso statistics. They were arranged on a definite plan to deal with tho problem in tho only practicable manner. Somo months ago ho had given instructions for the issue of n number of small booklets ; these would be distributed among thousands of householders in various parts of the Dominion, and it was anticipated that tho household accounts which would be kept in these books would enable tho Government to find out tho actual cost of living. It would be necessary, of courso, for tho account books to be properly kept, but as they were simple that should bo easy. All the books would be returned to the Government Statistician, and he would be, or should be, able to estimate fairly accurately what the actual cost of living was for, say, a home with father, mother, and three children. The Minister said he could not say if a report would be issued by the Statistician on the basis of the figures obtained from the account books. The matter had nofc yet been decidcd so far as that. "I am watching tho whole matter very carefully indeed," said Mr Russell, "for I realise its importance."