Steady Increase In N.Z. Living Costs

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30338, 14 January 1964, Page 10

Steady Increase In N.Z. Living Costs

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 13. The likely increase in the price of sugar highlighted the steady increase in the cost of living which had gone on for the last eight years, said the president of the New Zealand Social Credit League, Mr F. Needham, today.

“The Government is faced with either increasing its financial guarantee to the sugar industry or allowing an increase in sugar prices. In either case this raises the whole question of increased costs, whether direct or indirect.

"There has been a steady rise in the retail prices covering meat and fish, rent, home ownership, domestic supplies and services, clothing, footwear, public transport, private transport, tobacco and alcohol and many other general groups. “The public should be informed of the nature of these increases,” said Mr Needham. “Because no other political party seems concerned at issuing the official figures, the League would like to draw the attention of the public to the following information from the Statistics Department. Rise Since 1955 “Taking 1955 as the base, the retail prices of the items which follow had increased by the following percentages up to( the third quarter of 1963: f “Meat and fish 24.6 per ceht, fruit, vegetables and eggs 10, other foods 9. all foods 13.4, rent 59.9, home ownership 45.7, domestic supplies and services 16.7, all household operations 15.3, clothing 7.4, footwear 34.8,

public transport 25.6, private transport 28. tobacco and alcohol 28.7, other services 48, all miscellaneous 31.4, all groups 23.3. "Not Apparent” "It is obvious that this slow but sure spiral of increasing costs is something which does not become apparent day by day or item by item, but it is equally obvious that a responsible Government should not merely have these facts recorded by one of its departments. “It should be as concerned about publishing them as it is in blazoning its election advertisements that the cost of living will be kept down. “The League is concerned at the sugar situation, as will be every housewife. It will be interesting to see how the Government will handle the dilemma it is in. “Rents, for instance, are bound to increase further under the new Tenancy Act. In eight years they have gone up nearly 60 per cent. “Where does this spiral stop? Where is the incentive to the producer? Miserable tax palliatives, temporary finance at high rates of interest, promises of this and that if production increases are not the answer.”