THE CO, OF LIVING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12713, 16 November 1904, Page 6

THE CO, OF LIVING.

AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION. [BY TJOJUOBAPM.OWN COttBtSPUNDESr.]' Wellington, Tuesday. During the hearing of the drivers* dispute before the Arbitration Court, there has been a good deal of examination of witnesses as to the cost of living, which the Drivers' Union claims has increased considerably since lie award was macks three yeans ago. , A coupife of the witnesses (employers) considered £2 2s a week would be a living wage for a cardial' man. Cross-examined, am. of these witnesses said he had himself lived on £2 2i eight yea re ago. The other said his father had brought* his family up on less than £2 2». Then the anion's representative sought to show that there had been an increase in ; food prices since those days. " Eight ,years ago," said Mr. Grr, representative of the union, " a leg of mutton was delivered at the door for Is- - Now it casts 6s 6df" '■ s The President (Mr. Justice Chapman): " There are labourers at 7s, are there not?" Mr. Orr: "They iivo by letting rooms, a most demoralising custom." ' ' - : ' Mr. Scott (omp.oyers' representative) said that labour who earned 30s to 35s : during the whole year round might have a struggle for it, but they lived] " Mr. Orr mid that in nine cases out of ten. such working men let rooms or tools in boarders. If they were paid £2 lOs a wcefc ; they would have their house and families to themselves, In many instances wives went out to work, and had to neglect their children. The President pointed out that the question of whether a man could live on a certain wage depended on many things, such as whether he used or did not use tobacco and alcohol. Was the Court to go into matters of this sort?