LIVING COSTS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29987, 23 November 1962, Page 14

LIVING COSTS

Govt Again Attacked (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 22. The cost of living was the theme of tonight’s adjournment debate in the House of Representatives. Miss M. B. Howard (Opposition. Sydenham) charged the Government that the consumer price index rose from 1150 points in the last quarter of 1960 to 1201 for the June. 1962, quarter, a rise of 4.4 per cent. The rise had been caused, she said, by the relaxation of rents restrictions, ending of price controls and increased charges for electricity, rail fares, and Post Office services.

Rents had risen 19.9 per cent., she said. Home ownership costs bad increased 5.2 per cent. Mr L. R. Adams-Schneider (Government, Hamilton) said that under Labour rump steak went up lid a lb. a man’s suit £3, a sports coat 12s Id, men’s trousers 10s 6d. a boy’s sports coat 9s 3d. and a woman’s cardigan 6s 7d. “The Labour Government had nothing to boast about," he said.

Mr R. Macdonald (Opposition, Ponsonby) said rents in Auckland had gone up "sky high.” One room costs as much as £5. The Minister of Marine (Mr Gerard) said that if Miss Howard "took the trouble to look at the facts” she would find that the cost of living had risen much less than in the three years of the last Labour Government.