COST OF LIVING

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2551, 27 August 1915, Page 5

COST OF LIVING

: 4 : ; LEGISLATION -PROPOSED. In the, course of the Financial State- 1 ■rnent presented'' to Parliament last evening the following occurred:— The- steadily increasing cost oflivine is causing a great deal of anxiety. It lias'i become a matter not only of rational. but of world-wide/concern. In New Zealand a Royal Commission,' which was set up to inquire into the question and make . recommendations for the consideration of the Government, furnished a valuable : report; AVliile it is'exceedingly difficult to deal effectively with the causes which tend to hicrease the cost of. living, it' is the' intention of the . Government to take- measures ' lo remove any' abuses that may exist, and to prevent any person, taking advantage of the conditions associated with tho-war to trade upon the .necessities of the people. The object will bo to ensure that the cost of "the'' food,-clothing, and shelter ..of the people is in no way unduly or artificially increased. Our desire should ,bo that no part of tho field of business' opportunity may be restricted b.v monopoly or combination, and that tho right of every man to acquire commodities',' and. particularly the necessaries of life, jn an open market, uninfluenced by the manipulation of trust or combination, may be preserved, arid the people not exploited. In this connection, with a view of increasing the powers of municipal corl>orations and avoiding, the expense incidental to special legislation at the instance of those bodies, it is proposed 'to amend tho Municipal Corporations Act. giving powers somewhat similar to those given to the Cities of Wellington and Cliristcliureh in the year'l9l4, under local Acts, 'relating to the. inspection, .sale, and ,control of the local milk-supply; the establishment, equipment, and maintenance of markets, refrigerating .chambers, -and chambers lor tho cool storage of meat and other articles intended for. human food; a.nd also to establish, equip, and maintain local municipal bread supply - **w-:ioaiu