PRICES IN THE ’SIXTIES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6667, 21 July 1928, Page 4

PRICES IN THE ’SIXTIES

Interesting Peep Into the Past In a recent issue of the-Hew Zealand Herald was printed the following interesting facts concerning the cost of living and farm produce in the early days of the Dominion. Cost of living in Auckland in 1863 was high in relation to wages,,-the scale'of Which is indicated by an advertisement calling for 50 axemen at 50s. per week or 30s. with board. Possibly carpenters, masons, and allied tradesmen, who were in demand in the •town, might have been able to bargain for more, but that no working man could afford luxuries is indicated by, the following range of prices for necessities:— Milk, 6d. a quart. Butter, fresh, Is 6d a lb. Cheese, colonial, Is 3d a lb. Eggs, Is 9d. a dozen. Lard, la 6d. a lb, Bowls, 5s to 6s a pair. Ducks, 6s a pair. Geese, 7s tj 8s each. Turkeys, 8s to 10s each. Bacon, Is 6d a lb. Hams, English, Is 6d a lb. Potatoes, 11s 6d a cwt. Beef, lOd to Is a lb. Mutton 10 d. a lb. Pork, 9d a lb. Bread, sd. a two-pound loaf. Fine flour, 19s for 1001 b. Sharps, 12s for 1001 b. Bran, 2s a bushel. The of the largo body of troops in the province doubtless created scarcity and increased prices. The graziers of the time were on a remarkably good wicket. The local supply of meat, for instance, was not sufficient to meet the demand, and sheep and cattle were transported from southern, ports as well as from Australia and Norfolk Island to supply the Thp following list of prices, from a market report in one of tho early issues of the Herald is illuminating;—•' -j Pat bullocks, £ll I.os to £lB 10s Fat cows, £ll to £l2' 15s. v Best fatted Leicester wethers, 57s to 63a ■ ~ ’ Merino wethers, 23s to 325. 1 ' ’ Half-bred sheep, 24s to 30s. Fat sheep,' 2.2 s 6d to 345. Fat lambs, 16s fid to 22s lOd. Store cattle (scarce and in demand). Cows, £8 10s to £9 15s. Steers, £8 to £9 12s 6d. ■ " Dairy cows (breed not mentioned) £l3 to £l6 12s 6d. Yearling, calves)' £5 15s to £7,7s 6d. ; ; v , v Weaned calves, £5. •>.. 1 . Wool was not then a very substantial item in the export trade of Auckland, tho offering at the second sale of the 1863 season by Mr Alfred Buckland being 250 bales and 50 bags, but tho prices for the time were by no moans meagre. At this sale - washed wools brought Is 6d to Is V§d per lb., Leicester wool commanding the highest values. .. Wool in grease made lid to Is Id. ’ • ■ ' ;•:•••• As to the money market it was reported:— “Capital is abundant but not freely offered, as capitalists are holding in anticipation of land speculations. Shareholders evince no disposition to do. business at present rates. New Zealand Insurance shares have been quitted at £l2 10s. Six months ’ dividend,has accrued on them,.and as it is expected that the company will declare ten per cent, for the' half year, this figure is much below their value,” .. . The tariff of the time does not,seem to have exercised the ingenuity of a wizard of finance determined to exploit .every opportunity of obtaining revenue. A critic in Parliament complained that • the tariff placed an unfair burden upon, the working classes. . A case of silks worth £IOOO, ho 'said, paid tho same duty (£4 Is) as a case of moleskins worth £4B. . ' ■ . ■- ' ~■■■■■■ *

The same member may have been, the first man to advocate an import tax on land produce. .He considered .that wool should be taxed equally with gold,