COST OF LIVING

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 117, 19 May 1914, Page 3

COST OF LIVING

j FOUR CENTRES COMPARED WHICH IS THE DEAEEST? POSITION IN WELLINGTON. "Is the City of Wellington more costly to reside in than other centres in New Zealand?" Was a question which was discussed at the meeting of the council of the Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon. The issue was raised in a letter which had been received from Mr. L. M'Kenzie, a member of the chamber. The President (Mr. C. M. Luke), in opening the discussion, said the question was so involved that it could not be adequately dealt with at any single meeting, and he, suggested, therefore, that it should _be referred to a committee to ascertain the facts and draw up a report. He had made certain observations himself in the other three centres as to the cost of commodities and rents, and so far as the latter question as applied to workers' dwellings was concerned, found there was a general outcry in each of those centres that the rents there were the highest paid in New Zealand. He thereupon made further en* quiry and found that the rents charged in those centres, while at one time cheaper than those which prevailed in Wellington, were now just as high ; in fact, there was very little difference. In saying this he was referring not to lents charged in the centre of the city, but to those ruling within a radius of three miles of the centre. In discussing the cause of high rents he said it was not so much the question of the price of land as the cost of building nowadays that influenced it. The land, in the opinion of a great many people, might be considered high in comparison with that in the old world, but in comparison with, some of the Australian cities it was not high. He had no explanation to give why the price of land was so high here, but pointed out that some time ago suburban land in the vicinity of Wellington fell to such a degree that large sums of money were lost, including very considerable amounts in second mortgages. As to the cost of building, it had gone up to such an extent that whereas some years ago it cost £50 per room to erect a dwelling, they could not get a decent dwelling erected now under £100 per room. A factor which had to be considered in this connection, however, was the extra conveniences now provided in the way of sanitation, etc. Among other causes which he mentioned as being responsible for the increased cost in the erection of dwellings were higher prices of timber, the increased cost of delivery, and the higher wages paid to the workmen. He considered thab the greatest factor which had to be faced in the cost of living was the increased price of commodities, and specially referred to the rises that had taken place in the prices of butter and meat. The question arose as to whether such increases were brought about by combines and trusts, and it seemed to him that such came within the scope of the chamber. The whole question rested on economics, and he did not know that they were so well versed in them as they might be. So deep and vast was the subject that they might very well give a whole session to it and sift the matter from top to bottom. What they should seek to do was create a condition of affairs that would give equal opportunity to all in the community so that all could partake in the larger production of wealth taking place, and that out of that scope there would be room and to sparo in which the individual might work out his destiny to the higher good of the community. (Applause.) I Mr. Geo. Winder thought that the j chamber could get some statistics from I the- Department of Labour showing the cost of living in the different cities. Mr. Luke, quoting/ from the Labour Journal, said that not a very wide difference was shown. For tihristchurch and Dunedin the figures given showed a slight advantage. Mr. Winder expressed the opinion that as there was very little speculative building going on in Wellington at present, and there were large numbers 01 people coming here, rents must go up. Mr. W. Smith said that an owner of 100 houses in Kilbirnie had informed him that he could let another 50 houses if he had them at the same price— 'from 14s to 17s per Week. The gentleman in question, however, could not erect houses now for letting purposes at that figure. Mr. J. W. Brodie suggested that tho City Council would relieve the situation considerably; if it would grant family concession tickets on the tramways. HIGHER STANDARD OF COMFORT. Mr. A. Leigh Hunt pointed out that in considering the cost of living they had to take into consideration the very much higher standard of comfort provided now compared with 20 or 30 years ago. People nowadays also required everything to bo delivered at their doors, all of which cost money. He wanted to know if they could get a better meal for Is today than they could some years ago? If they could not it seemed to him that it settled the question to some extent. A committee comprising Messrs. Luke and Brodie and the secretary (Mr. A. J. Petherick) was appointed *to investigate the position and report.