COST OF LIVING

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 140, 13 June 1912, Page 8

COST OF LIVING

ANOTHER REFUSAL TO GIVE EVIDENCE. STATE COMPETITION ADVO- , ( GATED. LBT TELEGRAPH — PKBSS ASSOCIATION.^ ' CHRISTCIIUfiCir, This Day. When counsel for v witness subpoenaed by the Cost ot Living Conimisbiun svated thia nioriiiug that his client de-l-lined to give evidence, tho chairman asked if any reason could bo stated. Counsel replied that there was not. Tho Chairinaa) : 1 only ask becauso counsel in Dunodin refused Gvidence on behalf of »his client declining to states reasons, and then wroto to tho newspapers giving reasons which he ret'uaed to give to the commiosion. 'Ihe principal witnoss this morning waß Mr. D^ G »Sitllivan, representing the Tradoß and Labour Council, who gavo list 3of prices of various articles. He said a higher standard of comfort was needed by the workora because of the speeding-up in factories whero greater energy was demanded than formerly. The conditious for unskilled labour were worse than twenty years ago, but the artisan v/as in a, better position. Men would go into the country unlcjs the conditions of life and wages thero unproved. Failing improvement it would be useless to import labour beCiiuso the immigrants would speedily drift to tho towns. He thought the chief factors of tho increased cost of living were the higher cost of clothing and higher rents. Witli education men demanded a .better degree of comfort, lie advocated increased State competition as a means of reducing tho cost of livi»2- '

Thero js no improvement in Mr. J. LachmaVs condition. He is still seriously ill. ■ 'J he IJillows aerated machine- cases, William de. itenzy and C. F. Spoouer v. Frascr, Ramsay. -Ltd..^ were continued before the Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) aud a special jury of twelve today. Mr. C. ■!?. Skerrett, X.C.. with him Mr. G. H. .Fell, appeared for <le ileuzy, Mr. C A. Louglmam i'or Spooler, and Hir John Fiudlpy. K.C., with him All 1 . J. A. Trifie, for defendants. Leuijlbv «vi>.l:u=e is being li«Si:d<