COST OF LIVING

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 1, 1 July 1922, Page 6

COST OF LIVING

HOW MUCH HAS it FALLEN? JIR,. M.'COMBS ,OJ[. REPOBTS;, The Labour arguments regarding'; the cost of living were strongly combat-ted > by the .Prime.; Minister when speaking on the Labour amendment in-the House' of,;Eepresentatives yesterday. He quoted^ an official report which he had received* stating that in March, 1920, the cost oE living .based on the three food groups] ■.stood at 62 per cent, above the'figure' for Ju1y,.1914. ; At that time the totali* .increase by; way .of.bonus' to the lowew paid Civil-servants, stood at £95. .- Id •May, 1922, the: "cost of living on the! Jood1 groups.had fallen to 45 per cent* above the figure for July, 1914, represi senting a drop of 17 per centi sinc^ March, 1920., - v ■',•'•■.•:'. ,' . Mr. H. E. Holland (Buller): ."Bu6, that is the food'groups; what about clothing and; rent?" \\, ' r . . ■'„. '.''■ Mr. Massey:" "We have always base* our calculations .upon, the "food group*.'! A Mr,. Holland: • "But clothing is an item: that..should be considered." ', Mr. Massey said that the report waa: signed by J. J. Esson, Secretary to tha*> Treasury; P. Verschaffelt 3 Assistant Public Service Commissioner; and MaU colm Fraser, Government' Statistician, They, could not .obtain '. a . report fron^ three better men. : ' ; : 1 M^r.' J. M'Combs (Lyttelton): ."ReadT ,the Judge's report.",' "..;.', ■....: '•; .•-.:-■. '. Mr. Massey: "I care nothing fdr"- tht. Judge's report. !, .-'J; ;:.'', ; .■/•; .'.:., ""."■■ ;-.:. Mr. M'Combs: .i-Why are .you pressing it?',';;: '.'-y,, "[",'■;:-.- •.'■.;■,;>, ■..■''.■■■:,"--■...-•""■ Mr.. Massey: '."I: am: not t - suppressing it. Mr. Speaker, I; must ask your .proj tection from the yiole'nt/- unruly,.\andi impertinent interjections; of;.: the- lion,'member.. I Ysaid .that :thei report would come -before! the.House iai 'due'-course.'?'-/v-;:y::-;1.; '■,;■}"?■■ .' ;;."':.'."■■'.,■'.' Mr. M'Combs: ; "Give 'us tfie' reporf', you, have now." ■:■■:_. : .'-.■'■■ ;;; ■. -.; ■ ■.;•;■•V'.- •■' -.. -.- -; Mr.'-'Massey:."Judging'from. his.intei^'.; jectipnsi Wie. hon.->: member has already read the.report.;;The:.whole;country will1, see; it; and the whole country will have ;somthing to.say;about' it." ';;.. -. V:Mr; :M;CombsV;v "They;;:will?;see .the;: second .report." :',. .. ;'■ .'.■;■'. ; ,')■;". , .''•'•"..

"'. ''Mr.-': Massey: "There is only qne:.w port'so' far; as I know."- ...::■.;."' •-.-■ .-..■ Mr.; M'Combs:!■ "You have, asked foi)/ a-.second- report." -. .'■ .■■/■, -.■.;■■.'' ;- v'■' ..Vv?'.' ; At;a-later' sfe,gej'-;MrL:Massey saidHhai>; he had been informed that the report. wasithen in'his'room; but* he could hot: deal with it' at' a moment's';: notice:There would be no harm.in holding it over, until .next: week. .' •' ■•>':! v '■':■•: •"-.- ':'•' A remark, by Mr. T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) still .later in ;the- debate. brought the Prime Minister to'his feet in a personal explanation. He explained that he had- applied/to the V Judge Lot the Arbitration Court, as provided in the statute, about a' fortnight ..ago'..; The Judge was i» another part, of New Zealand at the time, but telegraphed say-' ing; that he' would, be in Wellington E week later. The Judge had sent'in- th< report and had requested that the Prime Minister would give him a faw minutes to; explain a few of the points. He" had seen the Judge, the interview latted only about five minutes, in alii and,; in compliance with; the request of the Jadge, who said he would. like to. add tom«thing to it, the'report had been haiided back.' The report," as amended, had come' back that day,:,and:he:had s«en it;at the dinner adjournment. It was fairly lengthy. He had looked through it, Wd believed he had the hang of it, but:HeV.wasMiot going, to: submit it to the.House until he had had;a chance oj consulting his colleagues. '...'.;;,. ; . .; Mr.": Wilford: A'Hear,: hear." Collectiv< ■ responsibility.-'V;. 1,- ",-.., ''•/.--, '. ■•■.-„■ ■*.' : Mr. :'<: Massey: '"Exactly, collective *"» sponsibilityi" Cabinet,.'he added, iwoulo: probably;sit on Monday." .^ :; ,:'":.-: • ;•".