COST OF LIVING

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 102, 1 May 1915, Page 6

COST OF LIVING

A CAMPARISON-1875 AND 1915 INTERESTING FIGURES. Some interesting evidence, comprising the results of careful research, were given at the Arbitration Court by Dr. James M'llwraith, 8.A., LL.13., D.L., upon the relative cost of living to-day and in the year 1875. Dr. M'llraith was called as a witness by Mr. C. W. Smith, representative of the Union Steam Ship Company, in its industrial dispute with the Federated Cooks and Stewards' Union. Mr. Smith's object was to show that the cost of living was greater in the year 1875 than to-day. Dr. M'llraith said he had made a close study of the matter of wholesale prices of goods and the cost of living. The wholesale prices last year, prior to the war, were not as high as in 1876, but were about 5 per cent, lower. It was about the year 1875 that the wholesale prices of most- commodities began to fall all over the world. Towards tho ertd of a long period of prosperous times the retail prices, i.e., the cost of living, increased faster than the wholesale prices, but in a time like the present, wholesale prices seemed to increase much faster than retail prices. If any reason could be assigned for this, he would say it was that towards the end of prosperous times people had money to spend' and they were not critical of the retail prices, but in a. time like the present the shopkeeper was under the public eye more than the wholesale dealer. One Australian opinion upon why the cost of living had not risen as rapidly as it might under the war conditions was that rents had been reduced. His Honour : That is actually taking place? Witness: Yes. I understand house agents have 5000 houses on their books, and the reduction in. rents over these would amount roughly to about 10 per cent. In some cases it woidd bo ac much as 25 per cent. Mr. Smith : Between June, 1911 and August, 1914, did tho cost of living increase? — It rose 3 per cent. In 1913, he add*ed, the boom in. wholesale prices was reached, and they then began to fall, until the outbreak of the war. Since that date fche rise in the cost of living was about '} per cent. Wholesale prices had increased twice as rapidly as retail prices since the war — 20 per cent. as against 9 per cent. The rise had been chiefly in farm produce. Its cost now was as high as in 1868. Before the war broke out farm produce had reached tho highest level since 1879. To Me. Carey, witness said tho purchasing power of the sovereign had decreased since 1908 to prior to the war by 9 per cent. To his Honour, witness said that the decrease in rents since <tho war was attributed by house agente^ to the fact, that people who had not paid i % ents had taken advantage of the war conditione. Some said they could not now pay as much rent, though perhaps being equally as prosperous. There was, also, a feeling, no doubt, among landlords that the times called, for a little feeling for their tenants. Hie Honour : Perhaps that feeling obtains'elsewhere also? Witness : Yes, I should say co.

Time is money ; motor delivery saves time and therefore money. Every business houee is looking for fresh custom; a prompt and systematic delivery service is the surest way of getting it. How to deliver ; more goods in a given time, how to 1 increase the number of daily deliveries, how to widen the area of distribution, are problems that I have made a study of. I have in stock j several types of the famous Wall Parcel Cat. Any trial given. Call and inspect. J. E. Fitzgerald, Motor Dealer, 139, Lambton-quay. — Advt. The seventy-third anniversary of the j formation of the Congregational Church in Wellington will be celebrated by special services in the Terrace Congregational Church to-morrow. Tea and public meetings will be held on Tuesday evening. A social and dance will bo held in St. Anne's Hall, Wellington South, on Wednesday evening.' The Watersido Workers' Band will play at Newtown Park to-morrow afternoon.