THE RENT FIGURES

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 82, 5 April 1924, Page 6

THE RENT FIGURES

Further information regarding rent-statistics is given by the Government Statistician in a statement of which we publish a summary to-day. The movement of rents is closely examined "with a view to determining the accuracy of' the rent-index upon which-basic-wage calculations have been made. The conclusion reached is that, though the half-yearly collection understated average rents for the towns for a time in 1921, the Dominion average was then substantially accurate, and any discrepancy in the towns was quickly made good. The Statistician does not claim that his figures are absolutely accurate. Even slight 'acquaintance with statistical work should convince the layman that absolute accuracy is impossible of attainment. But it is claimed that there is no better indication of the rent movement available, and this claim, we be-

lieve, is fully supported. Certainly the rent-index is a. better guide to the average cost of housing than the figures based upon a random collection of. abnormal rents. It is this aspect of the matter which is often o%'erlooked by the man inthe street. He bases his idea of rent-increase upon the- abnormal instances which attract- r public attention. He forgets to' allow for the great .number of householders who. are paying moderate rents and making no fuss. But the Statistician must include in his calculations the low and the moderate as well as the high.