THE COST OF LIVING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 53, 3 March 1908, Page 8

THE COST OF LIVING.

A CHAMPION OF NEW ZEALAND. Ik the cost of living in New Zealand higher ihain in the Commonwealth? Mr. H. J. Manuon, agent for the New Zealand Uovernment in Melbourne, saj'y No. Ho wrote to refute- the statement of a correspondent to the Melbourne Herald, who "sighed for Victoria."' Although he was earning 9s a day as a labourer in the Dominion it cost him 4s 6d a clay to live. The Chief Secretary of Victoria took iho matter up and he concurred with, the one who "sighed for Victoria," as to the delectable conditions of that happy State and its superiority over New Zealand as a place of residence. ' Mr. Manson could not let this semiofficial statement pass unchallenged, especially as the Crief Secretary observed "it is only when sorao people leave us that they find out that there is no. better country than Victoria." '•Living in the Dominion (said Mr Manson in his lettsr'to tho Herald) as elsewhere the world over, its ahvaye dearer to the casual sojourner than to the resident; the usual amount weekly paid by labouring men for good boardand residence is from 16s to 18s (not 6ls 6d)j though of course, numbers employed on railway and road construction works necessarily live under canvas, having* their me?ls together and paying the providor from 8s to 12s weekly for three square meals daily. "It is the least part of my intention to start invidious comparisons between Victoria and the Dominion of New Zealand, b ut lthink it judicious to point out that the cost of living in New Zealand in ratio to earnings is no higher than in any State of the Commonwealth."