Manawatu Evening Standard. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1917. THE COST OF LIVING REPORT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10109, 17 October 1917, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1917. THE COST OF LIVING REPORT.

Thk special cominittoe set up by the House ol' Uepresentatives to consider the cost of living problem luis shown a laudable desire to arrive l at a solution ol the much vexed questions involved. Hut the wisdom ol the recommendations made to the House on Monday is open to very serious question. ’I he report pretty plainly shows that the Committee has tailed to arrive at a solution of what, having regard to existing social conditions and the abnormal eondilions arising out of the war, remains largely an insoluble problem. That Sir ,Joseph Ward should have expressed amazement at certain ot the Committee’s proposals is not to he wondered at. The appointment of a Food Controller mignt be advisable were we threatened with famine. But we are not. there is certainly a prospective wheat famine, hut Mr .MacDonald’s wheat purchases in Australia will more than suffice to meet our requirements, so that there is no occasion for apprehension' on that score. The only element of uncertainty in the business is the Labour trouble, which has resulted in the supplies being held up, and until the Australian strike is finally settled there is no saying what cargoes may be declared “black.” The proposal to appoint a Food Controller, and to invest him with “special plenary powers of administration” that would enable him to add indefinitely to the taxation ol the country, is little short ot an absurdity. \ cry naturally Sip Joseph Ward expressed disapproval ot tin.*, suggestion that the I'ood Controller should nave authority “to regulate the retail prices ot local products to consumers iu New Zealand,” by purchasing at ruling export prices . . . such products as may he required tor local consumption,” and to distribute them “throughout the Dominion at such lower prices as ho might think fit, the loss being met out of the Consolidated Fund.” ' The Food Controller, under the Committee's proposals, would not onlv have a seat in the Cabinet, hut he would he practically the “boss” man in the show, wielding greater powers in regard to finance than even the Minister holding the Finance portfolio, because he would he able to incur a practically unlimited expenditure, the whole of which would have to lie made good out of the public finances. Ihe Committee seem to have sensed tins aspect of the business, because Mi Stathain informed the House that n had been suggested that the food Controller should hold also the portfolios of Customs and Trade and Commerce. The suggestion was not adopted, because it'was felt that the I'ood C ontroller’s duties in other directions would eivage all his time and attention. Hail it been accepted it would have haa this advantage, that the I'oocl Coutrolloi would have been more in touch with the volume of trade, and would 1 a\e a hotter idea of the collections Iha u vie passing , inio the Consolidated Fund from the Customs, etc,