DEARER LIVING

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 86, 9 October 1915, Page 9

DEARER LIVING

REDUCING THE COST WHAT NEW SOUTH WALES HAS DONE. v DISCUSSION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILOne of the most thoughtful and instructive speeches heard in the Legislature on the cost of living problem was delivered yesterday afternoon by the Hon. J. T. Paul in the Legislative Council on the second reading of the Cost of Living Bill. Mr. Paul, after strongly submitting that such an important measure should have been brought down earlier, said that the effect of the Bill would be to consider, to some extent at all events, the rights of the consumer. The Board of Trade to be established under the Bill could also set enquiries on foot with a view to improve the position of the producer. The remarkable attitude was taken up by some politicians that we must find new markets and increased prices,' independent of the effect on the consumer at all. The basic principle of statesmanship was to ensure the supply of the article to the consumer at a reasonable price. New South Wales had made a most helpful experiment in this direction. About four years ago it set up a Commission of Enquiry into four or five necessaries of life, such as fish, bread, fruit, and milk. The Commission, after investigating, made its report, and the Government proceeded to put into force the proposals made. The supply of fish, for instance, was revolutionised by the introduction of State trawlers and retail markets. Our present system of bread supply was very wastoful, owing to the duplication thav existed — unnecessary bakeries, unnecessary management expenses, and unnecessary rents. State bakeries would save this wasteful multiplication and do away with combines. The Attorney-General of New South Wales, speaking of the saving to the consumer effected by the Act brought into operation as the result of the investigations of the Necessary Commodities Commission, had pointed out lhat the Commission had saved the consumer large sums by rejecting applications to increase prices. For example, an application was made in the price of biscuits to the extent of Id alb, and id was granted. The sum of £7700 was saved in the biscuit bill, but there- was no shortage of biscuits by this interference on the part of the Commission or by not letting trade take it-s ordinary course. In the case of jam, factories applied for a rise of £d a tin, but when the question came to be examined the factories withdrew their application without waiting for a decision. Mr. Paul then quoted the At-torney-General's figures to show that the following savings had been effected for the consumer :— Bread £138,540, butter £152,000, sugar £280,000, bran and pollard £84,000, biscuits £7700^ chaff £30,000, wheat £674,000, gas £10,000, jam £25,000; a total of £1,401,240. Mr. Paul criticised the clause of the Bill which allowed information regarding the board's deliberations to be obtained only upon application, and contended that proceedings should be open to the press and the public. The Leader (Sir Francis Bell) : It involves looking at people's accounts. Mr. Paul, continuing, said that the more information the public had regarding the prices of commodities the less likelihood there would be of the people taking extreme measures, such as strike©. He welcomed the Bill, inasmuch as it would enable the board to collect data — and very valuable data — but he regretted that its powers were not more extensive, as was the case with the New South Wales Board. In conclusion, he contended that the Minister of Industries and Commerce should not be chairman of the board (he was not speaking personally), but someone who had a complete grasp of the position s-houid be selected. The Bill was welcomed by the Hon. W. ; Earnahaw as tn fttUoact to de*l

with the problem. The lines suggested were practical and efficient. The Hon. John Barr said that in the present condition of things the whole question of prices was in the hands of the principal sellers, who were able to secure monopolies. He would prefer that the workers aroused themselves and went into the question of providing material for themselves. It was no use the Government ignoring the fact that the question of having State granaries had to be faced. The people could do a lot to help themselves, but would not. Sir Walter Buchanan said he did not agree with what the Hon. Mr. Paul had said regarding New South Wales. He noticed by the newspapers that in Melbourne the consumer was asked to pay twice as much for his meat as in New Zealand. He commended the Government for bringing in the Bill, and hts thought it would control the cost of living as far as it was possible. The Bill was passed without amendment.