COST OF LIVING

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue XC, 7 October 1915, Page 6

COST OF LIVING

Folk of boundless faith and hope, who had been expecting a wonder-working " Cost of Living " Bill, may be disappointed with the measure which was circulated yesterday. Briefly, it is proposed (1) to set up a Board of Trade; (2) to amend the Commercial Trusts ! Act; (3) to permit municipalities to deal 'in food and bricks. The projected'Boaxd, which is in accordance with the Massey Government's election pledge, is to be concerned with food prices, markets, and other matters directly or indirectly related to the public welfare. If the suitable men can be obtained such a Board should be able to give very valuable service to the public. As for the "trusts," they 'have lived through so mauy threats that they may not be much perturbed by the latest menace of a legislative forefinger. The campaign against "trusts" began in Seddonian days, and is likely to continue indefinitely at the present rate of progress without making the public notice that anything is happening. It is desirable -j-ncecgsfli'y ifijonj? ciusc&~to have ad"dj-

tional trading powers for local bodies, but it is not likely that many municipalities will be investing much money in this kind of enterprise until the war and its sequel have passed away. The local bodies' borrowing, at the present high rates of interest, has to be limited to works of urgent importance. The people will have to help themselves to lower the cost of living by reducing waste. New Zealand's rate of spending is still on a scale of extravagance. Do the people thoroughly appreciate the truth that an average saving of a penny a day per head of population would make nearly £1,500,000 a year (only about £500,000 short of the aggregate of war taxation)?