HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 116, 13 November 1919, Page 6

HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS

DISAPPOINTING RESULTS

Early in 1919 the Census end Statistics Office co-operated with a ChristeMfcch firm (Messrs! Andrews, Baty, and Co., Ltd.) in the publication of a household account book which, it was hoped, would be filled in by a large'number of householders throughout the Dominion', and thus provide valuable data bearing upon the subject of the cost of living. The account book provided for the entering of particulars relative to (1) the address, occupation, fariiily, dwelling, and periodical recurring payments of the householder; (2) the income of the houses holder from various sources; (3) the expenditure of the household under various headings^ Money prizes aggregating £100 were offered for the best completed books returned to the Census Office. A stipulation was, however, provided that if less than '500 completed books were received from each Island, prizes might be reduced proportionately. Only 106 books, however, have been received, giving particulars for full six months. Information gained is not so complete as desired, but it will bo of substantial value in showing the general characteristics of present-day household expenditure. One prize of £10 is! to bfe awarded, threes of £2 10s, and fifteen i>t iOs, in all £50. . Considerable difficulty has been experienced in other countries in attempts to secure this class of information, but it is believed that if the inquiry were confined to a shorter time —say one month —a large number of budgets might be secured. It it hoped, therefore, a further competition may be conducted at ■a later date.