THE H.B. TRIBUNE. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1911. THE COST OF LIVING.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 131, 19 May 1911, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE. FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1911. THE COST OF LIVING.

The difficulty of making the weekly wage keep the family out of debt is a problem continually facing artis-1 ans and manual workers, and anything that can be done to relieve the anxiety thus caused to members : of so large a section of the community should be speedily attended to. It is a question that is always alive, and one that harasses industry in more ways than is generally conceived. A striking feature of the problem is that as wages are increased to relieve the strain on working men who have families to support, the purchasing power of the wage decreases and a worker finds himself little if any better off than he was under the lower pay. This fact is found to occur in all countries where the labour laws are in force to regulate wages. The trouble in this respect is very acute to-day in New South Wales. A cablegram last week, it will be remembered, gave news of a deputation waiting on the Acting-Premier of that State, Mr. Holman, asking him to appoint a Royal Commission of Enquiry into the food supl ply of the city of Sydney, and the I cause of the increased cost of liv- ■■ ing. F urther information of the ex--1 periences related by the delegates [ during the interview’ is to hand by | last night’s Sydney mail. One [ speaker said that in many instances [ the increase in the cost of the ne- ■ cessaries of life was unjustifiable ! and unwarrantable. Wages had i been increased to £2/10/- per week, i but that amount had not as much [ purchasing power as £2 had a few years ago. He believed that the increased cost was due to the operations of trusts and combines and I other bodies. Evidence was given i that potatoes bought from growers ' at £3/10/- per ton, were sold to re- ! tailers at £l2 per ton. Similar comparisons were given with regard to flour, bread, meat, vegetables, fruit and fish. It was shown that if a farthing was placed on each loaf of bread it would pay the employer in view r of the fact that there had been a very substantial increase in wages, but instead of being satisfied with a farthing, they put on an extra farthing and put it into their own pockets. It was also shown that Hour, butter, meats, vegetables and all stuffs that could be canned, were now being sold as food to the population in the East, with Shanghai as a distributing centre, rather than in Sydney. The wages in the boot trade might have gone up 2d a pair, and evidence was brought to show that boots had gone up 1 3 and 2/per pair. Air. Holman was sympathetic and promised to take immediate steps to see that such an enquiry was set on foot. He had himself enquired into the matter and found there was clear evidence that buffer was sold for less in the European market than in our own. The tariff is sometimes mentioned, but it is obvious that the rise in commodities is not due to t he tariff at all. He was very much struck with what had be<"i said in regard to the proportionate iiu-rease in cost imposed by increased wages and the increase in price to the consumer. Th.e increase in the price of bricks should have been 9d. whereas the brickmakers put on 4.-. That is typical of what is going on. Bananas can be bought in Fiji for a shilling in bunches of about 15 to 20 dozen, and the cost of landing the same in Sydney would be about another shilling. Th< se are retailed to the public ar 6d and 8d per dozen. With regard to the fish supply, we have, he said, had some slight improvement since the council took it over, but fish can be bought at Id a piece at Port Stephens and will be sold in Sydney at 6d, while the cost of transport to Sydney is practically inappreciable. Only the inferior meat is obtainable here, while the first-class meat is being sent abroad. In dismissing the deputation Air. Holman said: “We would want commercial experts and others who are able to discuss this matter from a public standpoint. There is nothing like having these things properly ventilated from every point of view, and also to represent all shades of public opinion. I shall only be too glad to consult my colleagues as to the necessity for appointing this commission of enquiry.” The evidence that will be forthcoming at the enquiry will provideinterestingreadingnot only for “Sydneysiders,” but for New Zealanders, who are suffering from the lost purchasing power of a £1 note. It may be found that the success of the Commission in Sydney will ; justify the setting up of a Commis-, sion on similar lines in New Zea- I land, and result in the enlightenment of workers to the fact that * the constant harassment of employ- 1

ers for increased wages is without' benefit to themselves —is in fact' crippling industry only to add to the wealth of a few who are pocketing unworked for ana undeserved 1 profits.