COST OF LIVING.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20027, 8 September 1930, Page 8

COST OF LIVING.

HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES. THE AVERAGE BILL. (FBE6S ASSOCIATION TIt.EG.IAK.) WELLINGTON", September 0. The ramifications of the Government Statistician's -Department extend into many avenues in the enquiries required to be made. One of the main aims of the Department is to obtain all information possible to enable complete returns to be presented as to the cost of living of the average householder. Recently the Government Statistician (Mr Malcolm Fraser) circulated a number of querios to householders, and the replies received eontain a wealth of information enabling a gauge.to.bo-made-of the expenditure- of an average household. "Mr Malcolm Fraser," stated the Minister, in referring to the investigation to-day, "is very keen to obtain all information possible to complete the statistics of his Department. I have received a very illuminating report from Mr Fraser as a result ol ! the enquiries he has made. Mr Fraser states that 'lndex numbers showing the movement in the level of retail prices havo been published for some years past by., the Census and Statistics, Office.. In order that the 'all groups' index shall depict accurately the combined movement in the prices of the commodities making up the expenditure of the average household it is necessary that each group of expenditure be accorded ita proper importance in the make-up of tho index number. It was with the purpose of ascertaining the present distribution of household expenditure that a collection of household budgets was undertaken by the Census and Statistics Oftice for the months of March, April, May, and June of this year. The information so obtained will enable the retail price index numbers to be revised on a 1930 base. The selection of the j year 1930 was made at the instigation of the International Labour Office, which has urged all statisticians compiling index numbers of retail prices to adopt a 1930 base so that future comparisons of the level of retail prices in the various countries may be readily made.' " Prizes Offered. In order to encourage householders to undertake the somewhat arduous task of keeping a detailed record of their household expenses, prizes were offered for the most carefully compiled records. In all 332 budgets were received, somewhat less than was hoped for. The deficiency in numbers is, however, in a large measure compensated for by the high standard of accuracy and completeness of detail of those received. The usual experience in collections of this kind is that a large proportion of entrie; has to be discarded on account of inaccuracies or omissions, but in this collection only a few isolated budgets are entirely unsatisfactory for the purpose for which they were collected. In the North Island the first prize of £.20 was won by Mrs M. E. Upton, 11, Bower street, Napier, the three £5 prizes going to Mr G. R. Lomas, 2, Thames street, Mt. Eden, Auckland; Mr A. H. Smith, 7, Miller street, Ellerslie, Auckland; and Mr Thomas Wise-Leach, 62, Albany road, Heme Bay, Auckland. In the South Island Mr Thomas Ragg, "The Downs;" Geraldine, and Mr C. F. B. Nightingale, of .Alexandra, shared the first prize of £2O, and one prize of £5, as it was impossible to differentiate between the merits of these two entries. The remaining two prizes of' £5 in the South Island section of the competition went to Mr C. J; Arthur, 53, Aitken street, Ashburton, and Mr William Butters, 43, Diamond avenue, Spreydon, Christchurch. Complete Prize List. Following is the complete prize list:— One prize of £2O and one of £5: Mr C. F. B. Nightingale, Alexandra, Central Otago, and Mr Thomas Ragg, "The Downs," Geraldine, divide the first prize of £2O and one of £5, receiving £l2 10s each. Remaining two prizes of £5 each: Mr C. J. Arthur, 53, Aitken street, Ashburton; and Mr William Butters, 43, Diamond avenue, Spreydon, Christchurch. Fifteen prizes of £1 each: Mrs E. P. Anderson, Mount Pleasant, Nelson; Miss L. Applegarth, Spencer street, Bluff; Mrs A. F. Barnes, Cliristchurch, but now 31, Liffey street, Island Bay, Wellington; Mr S. H. Bassett, care Railway Department (Loco. Branch), Greyiliouth; Mr Ernest Coppard, New Zealand Railways, Leeston; Mr Robert William Crowther, 121, Moore street, Ashburton; Mr Albert E.- Golding, Queen ; street, Rangiora; Mr W. S. Hunter, South Riverton, Southland; Mr William Laney, Weston, Oamaru; Mr 11. K. Lewthwaite, Chelmer street, Oamaru; Miss Ada C. Lloydj Willowby, Private Bag, Ashburton; Mr E. McKenzie, 11, Grants road, Papanui, Christ--1 church; Mrs J. A. Orams, Redwood street, Blenheim; Mrs T. W. Robson, 24, Wroxton terrace, Fendalton, Christchurch; Mr M. A. Rosanowski, P.O. Box 15, Westport.