COST OF LIVING IN NEW SOUTH WALES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 65, 19 March 1925, Page 9

COST OF LIVING IN NEW SOUTH WALES

Since last, August the basic wage in this State has been £4 2s, but if figures' which have been placed before the Board °. £. .V; ade S° for anything, there is a possibility of the basic wage being reduced shortly. When the board made its last declaration, it based it on the average cost of living for the previous six months According to the figures of its own statistician, the average cost of living from last August, when the declaration o£ ±4 2s.was made, has been as follows:— August, £3 19s 4d; September, £3 19s 4d ; October, £3 19s 3d; November, £3 19s 3; December, £3 19s 4d. the board will proceed with its inquiry about the middle of this monthf the employees' representatives having asked for time to investigate the figures of the board's statistician. The board, incidentally, is anxious to carry further its previous investigation as to the cost of shelter, especially in relation to the effect upon the cost of living of the time purchase of houses. While'the determination of the cost of living is for the board, it is obvious lo any one who cltincee round the fihgpß in Sydney* that the price of laen'ts clothing, and of boots

and shoes and hats, haß come down considerably. This is especially so in the case 1 of footgear. Good boots and shoes are cheaper.in Sydney to-day than they have been for years, although it is safe to",say that even with these articles much dearer Sydney will not lose its reputation for being well-ehod—a point that has often impressed visitors.