COST OF LIVING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1479, 29 June 1912, Page 19

COST OF LIVING.

THE COMMISSION. ARE BOOT SOLES STUFFED?' COAL AND MEAT PRICES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ■: • Auckland, Jun« 28. The Cost of Living Commission continued its sitting to-day. William Edward Sill, secretary of the Butchers' Union, stated that wages had increased from 15 to 20 per cent, during the past fen years. . The cost of .labour had not 'added to the. price of moat. A high Home'market-meant ft high local market. The prico of meat in Auokland was governed' by tho Butchers' Association. All tho butchers in 'Auckland, except four or five, belonged (o tho association. • ' Thomas Donald M'Nab, grocer, and manager- for, the National Trading Co., when asked,'if hb had any knowledge of a "ring" controlling'prices in eggs, stated that thoro were; two or three wnolesalers and two or three retailors who fixed tho prico every Saturday;morning. One firm would ring up others; and ask .what tho prico was to be. . ' ,< ' - Tho chairman: ."What is the .oifcot to. tho producer of -that ; ring? ' Has it not a very depressing effect on his prices?"— "Yes." Ernest Arthur Craig, secretary of Craig Ltd., coal merchants and carriers, said that thero had been spasmodic rises in the cost of the carrying trade, coincident with the increased cost of labour.There had been rises in the cost of coal during the last eight or ten years, but not very much. Sir. Leadley: What has been the effect of recent labour legislation on your business?—"Tho margin of profit gets loss, the cost of labour is increasing, and the output of labour has decreased. Replying to a question, witness stated that a certain amount of Newcastle coal, and of > ordinary household coal for hotels and boardinghbuses, was t imported at about' 2 'per cent. As compared with Taupiri coal,- a considerable '• amount of Newcastle steam coal was imported. Mr. Fairbairn: Is there a common understanding between coal merohants as to prices?—"Wo have stated a prico for Taupiri coal only." Could an independent man start as a coal dealer in Auckland, and draw; supplies from merchants, like members of the association ?—"Thero is nothing to stop him ordering from tho mine direct/ and he can become a member of our association. He must conform to our prices. He could not sell at less." s Extravagance of Workers. ' Dealing with statements _ made by a union secretary on tho previous day, the witness stated that, from . 1906-1910, • the prico of coal had not varied. The statement that outsido persons could not get coal at the pit was incorrcct. There was no such thing as /'bond" in the Auckland Coal Dealers' Association. Tho whole crux of the matter was the extravagant living of working men. They wero entitled to "comforts," but "pleasures" seemed to rank first. 'lie thought that New Zealand was nearing a very dangerous finanoial zone owing to recklessly high extravagance in tho standard of living. Durability of Boots. William John Holdsworth, manager of Holdsworth and Son, said that tho prioo of boots had gone "up vary little considering the big advance in raw materials. •Unfortunately tho tariff hit heaviest at tho very stuff which was- not manufactured in New Zealand. -

The chairman: Havo j;ou any knowledge of deviccs for deceiving tho public, such as "I'arisian" boots made in Auckland? Some of tho brands boar a striking resemblance to those of European and American cities. Havo you any -knowledge of cardboard in imported shoes? "That was more so years ago than now. It would not pay to import these now."

Have you noticed any composition in tho heels ? "Yes, in lower grade Imported shoes, but that does not affect the wearing qualities unless it- goto Tery wet. Some rather sweeping statements were made about this in Christchuich. We havo a Boot Eetailers' Association, and they asked m« to contradict these statements. We doubt very much whether such conditions exist in Christchurch. Such • conditions certainly do not exist in Auckland. The increase in tho price of boots is not due to retailors as was stated. A 225. 6d. shoe ' was quoted as being mado for 10s. The retailers would not do much business on those lines, however." Witness added that there was nothing in the way of. banding together on tho part of retailers:with a view to putting up prices. This would be impossible as there were so many grades. The increase in prices was largely due to the increase in the price of raw materials. Tho increaso in sole leather was over 80 per cent., kips over 50 por cent., sheepskin over 50 per cent., and French calf 50 per cent. Wages had advanced about 20 per cent. Tho latter increases had not been "passed on" owing to competition. Meat and Eggs.' James Williams Garrett, "butcher, stated ho was free to sell at any price. He knew of no regulation of prices of meat. He knew nothing of butchers being bound to 6ell at certain prices, or forfeit a deposit of <£20. David Alexander Hedley, grocer, stated that tho prico of eggs was fixed every Monday morning, and published in the newspapers. Eggs woto sometimes sold at higher rates than quoted. Supposing that Is. was the price fixed, for instance, it was sometimes increased to Is. sd. or Js. Gd. , Douglas Heed, grocer and butcher, stated that there was a Grocers' Association in existence, but he did not belong to either the Butchers' or the Grocers'- Association. , Mr. E. Hall: Is there any attempt to interfere with you in the supply of goods? "No. If one merchant would not supply, I would go to another or to outside merchants." Jj.t. Roed added that thero was a combine among butchers to fix prices, and they wore under a penalty to sell at cer•"iii prices. He was the only free man. The Cost of Building. Peter J. Kerehcny, contractor and commission agont, -said that, about 18 Tears , ago, houses in the city wero almost empty, but, as things got better, these nouses filled, and, of course, better rents were obtained. Houses erected during the last twelve years had shown an increaso in rent owing to the high cost of timbor and the improved sanitary conditions in--1 eisted upon. For carpenters wages had not increased. In regard to the' price of bricks, witness consiuoivd that an enormous and unwarranted increase had taken place. John Rowe, builder, considered that tho cost of building had gone up considerably, but this was duo to other matters than wages, nr.d mainly to an advance in the price of timber. Why His Firm Had Refused. In his cvidonco on Thursday, Mr. Bell, of tho Union Soap and Candfo Factory, stated that tho reason why his firm had refused to supply T. W. Hall and Co., merchants, with goods was that they wanted tho price to stand for two years, and therefore, if the prico rose, his firm would suifer. J. W. Hall, of the firm referred to, appeared to contradict tho statement. There had never been any mention of wing into a contract, and tho TJnion Factory had no justification for refusing to supply his firm. J. W. Arns, secretary of tho General Labourers' Union, considered that, it good conditions wero available, 75 per cent, of the town would rush to tho country., Rent was the chief bogey to wnrkoi'3, who had to pay on on average Us. Cd. per week for a liouso in any way habiUublo. Henry IJarsfield, who had refused to appear on Thursday aa secretary for the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners appeared in his private capacity. Witness considered that the increaso in wages to theso workers had been only about Is. per week. He ridiculed tho idea that tho quantity of work done by labourers Of to-day was steadily becoming loss. Island Fruit. Mr, William Evans, fruit merchant, considered fruit, especially Island fruit, had increased in prico. Local fruit had varied vetr little. Tilt diff6ron.ee botwsen

-tho--Tvholesals and retail price of good fruit was about 100 per cent., while in regard to lower-grado fruit tho difference was only about 25 per cent. Tho fruit secured from tlio Islands was gradually decreasing in bulk, and naturally tho prico was rising. 1 -. Mr. H. N. Bagnall, tea and coffeo merchant, said that on twenty-ono of food articles used daily in New_ Zealand prices had remained almost stationary. Clothing had remained at the same prico practically as Hint at which it stood at 30 years ago,'if anything having dropped slightly. Although people were spending more on sport, Savings Bank accounts had inoroased. Onions, Cereals, and Flour. Mr. James H. Gunson, grain and produco merchant, and chairman of the Harbour Board, considered that prices for potatoes, onions, cereals, flour, and chaff fluctuated considerably, as markets were always changing. Tho principal factors which caused fluctuation wero those of supply and demand. Taking chalf ns an instance, witness said last year, despite tho duty of J!1 per ton, thousands of tons of this article had been imported into New Zealand. Under an ordinary system Australia at the Dominion's door, with- her extensive and abundant crops, would (were thero no duty against her) completely wipe out the farming . industry of this country, demoralise trade, and absorb annually from this country a very ljirgo amount of money. The same remarks applied also to flour milling and many kindred industries. Speaking broadly, witness said that thero had been no appreciable increase in the cost of living during the last two decades as far as the main articles of produce, such as potatoes, onions, otc., were concerned. Bents.

Mr. Thomas Long, union secretary, was of opinion that tho cost of living had increased to the worker mainly in regard to rents. Cottages, which twelve years ago wero rented at Bs, a week, were now being rented as high as 14s. In the opinion of tho workers thero was a ring in Auckland controlling the price of coal. It was impossiblo for a mail to start in tho coal business in Auckland unles3 he became a member of tho association, and, fUTtlier,' he had to outer-into a bond n6t to soli below a certain fixed prioe. To iprove this statement, witness handed in the nanio of his informant, an ox-coal merchant. ■ Mr. Arthur Tooraan, -general produce auctioneer, said that considerable improvement had been made in lruit-pack-ing, but thero was room for future improvement. ' Witness considered that there was more said about alleged conspiracy of silenco on tho part of retailers in regard to bidding at auction than was necessary. He knew no such conspiracy. In witness's opinion, retailers mado a gross profit of about 20 per cent, on fruit. Cost of Coal. Mr. E. W. Alison, chairman nf directors of the Taupiri Coal-mining Company, said that during the last thirteen years priccs had gono up as follow:—In IJIU Household coal was priced at 135., stoam coal 95.; 1907, household coal lis., steam coal 9s. 6d.; 1908, household coal 155., Bteam 10s. 6d.; 1909, household coal 165., steam coal lis. Gd. This was delivered on the railway at Huntly, Since 1309 there had been no increase. Witness admitted there was a Coal Dealers Association in Auckland, but his company supplied coal to anyone. Thero was no arrangement of any kind in regard to favouring certain firms. He attributed the rise in prico of coal 1 to the increase in the hewing rates, increase in wages paid, the reduction of tho working hours, the effect of legislation in regard to the -working of mines, increased cost of machinery, increased taxation, increased ■ insnranco necessary uiider, the Workers Compensation Act, and loss through strikes. Medical Attendance, etc. Dr. Herbert Goldstein did not consider that the cost of medical attendance had risen during the last twenty years. Doctors .expenses had increased considerably, but their fees had not increased. Mr. Geo. Court, draper, said that dur-: ing the last five years, the cost of drapery had go»e up considerably. Clothing had gono up in prico about ten per coat. Drapery generally had also shown an increase of ten per ccnt. Ho noticed, particularly in regard to the working classes, c, desire for more expensive goods. 1 hey were more . extravagant. In witness a opinion, the main cause of tho increased cost of living was high rents. Mr. J. Gallagher, fisherman, said that agreements among men of his trade were continually being broken, both by dealer .and fisherman. As far as he knew there was perfectly open competition in "W'®Middlemen mado most of tho prohts, but they had very heavy expenses to meet. Mr. William Richardson wns emphatic ill his opinion that the cost of living had not increased. Ho was of opinion that as much could be secured for £l now as peoplo had previously to pay £2 10s. for. Witness considered most of tlio money oj the people went in gambling and general extravagance