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North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13931, 13 July 1917, Page 3

A member of the Otago Daily Times staff mado inquiries on Monday regarding the statement of the Government Statistician (Mr Malcolm Fraser) that Auckland was the lowest town in the Dominion for the price of groceries—that, in fact, Wellington, C'hristchurch, and Dunedin were all much higher in respect, to their grocery bills than Auckland. The head of one merchandise house said that, if Mr Fraser used a certain list of goods in drawing up his comparative statement, then his deductions were not much value, as this list was composed chiefly of produce lines, and not groceries. The retail prices in Dunedin were always reasonable; there was no combination amongst grocers; and the competition in the retail business was very keen indeed. It was well known that the Auckland people had been satisfied for years with the poorest quality of grocery goods—they were more inclined to spend money in buying clothes for their backs than in purchasin good, sound qualities of food. Christchurch people probably bought a better class of grocery goods than any other town in the Dominion, In Dunedin the people liked a good quality of grocery goods, with a preference for the plain article. This merchant said, in conclusion, that the standard of living varied in different towns, and that statistics could be made to prove anything, Another Dunedin merchant said lie regarded Mr Eraser's conclusions as quite wrong. The.wholesale houses got lower prices in Dunedin than the merchants in any other part of the- Dominion. The grocers there were.very keen, and were quick to cut prices. If any proof is wanted that the grocers in Dunedin are not having too-good a time financially, the reporter heard various rumours as to the difficulties certain Dunedin firms are experiencing in paying their way. Bad debts are said to bo a big drain,