COST OF LIVING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13723, 13 April 1908, Page 5

COST OF LIVING.

IN THE FOUR CENTRES. INTERESTING COMPARISONS. [fl TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORK 5iP INDENT ] Wellington, Saturday. Where, in New Zealand, is it best for the wage-earner to live? In the April number of the Labour Journal an attempt- is made to contrast the cost of living in the four - centres and the secondary towns, and it appears that Wellington does not belie its reputation as the dearest place of abode. The figures give the position on March 1. In rents the capital city is easily supreme; in bread and Hour the centres are on a level, but there is divergence in many other lines.'. Following are a few differences, the figures being respectively for Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin : —

Butter (factory), Is 3d, Is to Is sd, Is 4d, Is 3d ; jam, (first grade), sd, 6d, sd, sd; treacle (41b tin), 9d, Is, Is, 9d; oatmeal (251b), 4s, 4s 6d, 4s, 3s 9d ; tea (average), Is, Is 9d, Is 6d, Is 8d; kerosene, 3s 9d, 4s 3d, 4s 6d, 4s; potatoes (141b), .Is, Is 3d, Is, Is. In meat there is little difference between tha centres. Wellington is slightly the cheapest if anything. Boots are lowest in Auckland, and Dunedin comes next, but the margins for the comparatively low-grade sort, selected as a unit of comparison, are not very formidable. There is an impression her© that, for the better class of boot and shoe Wellington is considerably more costly than the other centres. It is submitted, too, that clothing bills make sadder reading in Wellington than elsewhere. The capital lias a few minor advantages over the sister cities, but, " when all the numbers are hoisted," living here is a more expensive process than it is in Auckland. Christchurch, or Dunediu. In Auckland, apparently, the worker should be in the happiest mood, but then enters the matter of wages which are reported to be lower as a rule in Auckland than in Wellington and Christchurch if not Dunedin.