COST OF LIVING IN CURISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13392, 22 January 1907, Page 3

COST OF LIVING IN CURISTCHURCH.

CirßisTciiructi provision merchants assert that as far as Cliristcliurch is concerned, the Labour Department's food statistics are incorrect. They admit that fish is dear, but maintain that the reason why it is dealer in Cliristcliurch than in Wellington is simply because railage charges have to he paid. Wellington l- supplied not only from its own immediate district but also from Auckland and Napier bv a rapid service. and this service could not be extended to Christcliurcli without charges for Ireeziug and cold storage. As a matter ot fact, it costs more to bring blue cod ti'om the I'.ltill to (.'hristchureh than it does to send the fish to Melbourne. Concerning meat, a master butcher said that the, prices quoted in the pamphlet were ■ aney prices. The maximum had been put on to Canterbury and the minimum on to other provinces. Meat was always worth its value. There were times when specially good cuts of beef and mutton would fetch a higher price than the market average, but, taken all round, the prices charged in ' hristchuic!> wi re not in excess of those tiling in other centres. If was absurd to suggest, that good mutton was dearer in Canterbury than in Auckland or Wellington. He would gladly Vie prepared to place meat upon the market in Auckland and Wellington at the. price which it was suggested ruled in Canterbury, himself paying all charges. This should be sufficient evidence that the prices quoted by the Labour Department were top prices, and not the legitimate ruling average. ■