THE COST OF LIVING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15901, 12 April 1912, Page 7

THE COST OF LIVING.

[Per Press Association-.] WELLINGTON, April 11. Interesting references to the cost of living and the milk supply problem were made by the Flon G. Laurenson, Minister of Labour, when addressing a timber workers’ deputation to day. The Minister quoted a publication by Dr M’llwraith, who took as a basis the period from 1890 to 1899. when the fluctuations in the prices of foodstuffs were less than usual. Mr Laurenson had he'd the opinion that the cost of living had increased enormously, but it appeared that ill that period the increase was only 3 per cent. The writer admitted the large rise in the prices of butter, meat and bacon, but claimed a tremendous fall in the prices of sugar, kerosene, tea, tapicca and rice, which balanced matters. “ The milk question,” Mr Laurenson continued, “ought to be dealt with bv municipalities. I know I am on thin ice now. but I am not afraid. The farmer will tell you that if he can get sevenpence a gallon throughout the year ho 13 getting a good price. If you take a' city liko Wellington, assuming the population to be 80,000, the consumption of milk would average a quarter of a pint par dav. If the milk is sold at lOd per gallon, there is 3d for distribution, which would give a very big revenue. Eight cr ten milk carts will go to each street under our competitive system—a silly one I call it—but under a municipal system the cost of distribution would bo reduced by 75 per cent. I know the mill? distributing fraternity will bo up against me, but that doesn’t matter.”