LIVING COSTS SURVEY

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29342, 22 October 1960, Page 16

LIVING COSTS SURVEY

F.O.L. Inquiry Proposed

(Neto Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, October 22.

The Federation of Labour is to conduct a household budget survey to find out the 40-hour week wage required by a man to give his wife and two children—an average-sized family today—a decent living standard. With the facts from the survey, the federation will ask the Government for action on wages, either through direct representations to the Arbitration Court, or a commission of inquiry. The survey is to be conducted in the four main centres with the object of obtaining the true cost of running the household of an average working man. The budget is to be taken over a month, and it is hoped to begin it before the end of this year. The information supplied will be strictly confidential- to the national research officer of the federation.

The schedules which the family will be asked to keep include details of the age of children, rates, rents, maintenance and insurance.

A week’s grocery order is to be listed, plus day-to-day expenditure on meat, fruit, fish and vegetables.

Information is also sought on household supplies, such as soap, shoe polish, light bulbs, fare, medicines, newspapers, library books, ice-cream, and sweets. Other details wanted include clothing and footwear for each member of the family over a year, holidays, school books, and dentist fees.