COST OF LIVING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16671, 16 October 1917, Page 4

COST OF LIVING.

1. That a Food Controller be forthwith appointed, who shall have a seat in Cabinet, and in whom shall be vested special plenary powers ci administration to enable him to deal promptly from time to time with problems affecting, or which may affect, the cost of living, with power to control and regulate the prices of food and supplies and any other necessaries of life. 2. That the constitution, duties and powers of the Board of Trade be amended to meet the altered conditions consequent upon the appointment of a Food Controller. *8. That sub-section 2 of section 2 of The Commercial Trusts Act, 1910, and schedule* to said Act, r.s amended by section 12 of The Cost of Living Act, 1915, specifying the goods to which the Commercial Trusts' Act applies, be repealed, thus making the provisions of the last-mentioned Act directed against the formation of trusts and combines apply to any goods whatsoever. Protection Against Short Weight. 4. That in order to protect the public from short weight and short measure, legislation be passed providing that all packages or other receptacles in which goods have been put up ready for sale shall have clearly marked thereon the net weight and net quantity of goods contained therein. 5. That encouragement be given by legislation and otherwise to the formation and carrying on of co-operative societies for the distribution of commodities of all kinds. 6. That where necessary in the interests of the community, the Government should undertake 'the purchase and wholesale and retail distribution of goods, by sale and otherwise and that the necessary legislation be passed to - enable this to be done. 7. That vigorous steps bo taken to develop the fishing industry throughout the Dominion with a view to obtaining a cheap and plentiful supply of fish for the community. State - Controlled . Steamers. "

1 8. That the question of overseas local 1 shipping being of paramount im- [ portance, the Government should take < into consideration the advisability of establishing a Statte-controlled co-oper-ative line of steamers for the carriage of imports and exports of the Dominion and for meeting the requirements of inter-coastal and islands trades. 1 9. That in order to check more effectively any case of unfair increase in rents over pre-war rates, the provisions of part 1 of tho War Legislation Amendment Act, 1916, be amended and that in cases where rents have been increased in contravention of the terms of the Act, a duty be cast upon the Labour Department to investigate and where necessary bring such cases before the courts for adjustment. Further, the committee is of opinion that "-- -•.-»-.Mmi>nt of the suburban train services hasjbeen a factor in increasing the rents in cities, and urges the reinstatement'of such 6ervices as will enable suburban residents to attend to their occupations and reach their homes without serious difficulty. Powers of Pood Controller. The committee is of opinion that tho special plenary powers to be vested in the Food Controller should include, inter alia:—

# (a) To effectually prevent an increase in prices in any case where such proposed increase is not justified to his satisfaction, and where necessary to fix from time to time maximum wholesale and retail prices of goods throughout New Zealand. (b) To provide for the regulation ofretail prices of local products to consumers in New Zealand in the following manner, viz. : By the purchase nt . the ruling export prices of such products as may be required for local consumption and the distribution thereof throughout the Dominion at such lower prices as the Food Controller shall think fit, the loss being met out of the Consolidated Fund. (c) To make arrangements for the elimination as far as possible of the present unnecessary wasteful cost of distribution. ' (d) To eliminate tho middlemen's profits _wherever possible by bringing the consumer more nearly into contact with the producer. (e) To take the necessary steps to ensure the efficient carrying out of the "through-booking" scheme for perishable foodstuffs and of the "fruit-by. p.ost" scheme. (f) To fix and otherwise deal with the rents of dwellinghouses under powers similar to those under which he may deal with the prices of goods.

Part I. of the War Legislation Amendmont Act, 1916, which the committee recommends should be amended, was devised with the object of restricting rents of dwellinghouscs to the pre-war standard. It defines ''standard rent" as the amount of rent at which the dwcllinghouse was let on August 3, 1914, or, at the optior of the tenant, the lowest rent at any tira< between August 3, 1914, and Decembe] 31, 1915. It sanctioned increases .to } per cent, of the capital value iu case; where the " standard . rent" was lesi j than 8 per cent., but otherwise provide* that any increases already made, or tha' might bo made during the operation o the Act, should not be recoverable unless they were made in respect of im provements to the property or of increasa in _ rates paid by the 'landlord. Thi: legislation applies only to dwellinghouse; of which the standard rent does no* exceed £104 per annum. The Act doe not prescribe any penalty for breaches o its provisions, but simply deprives tin landlord of the right to recover any in creases made in contravention of its pro visions.

The fruit-by-post scheme was introduced some years ago. but few people \ have over taken advantage of it. Under this scheme, the Post Office will act as agent for the buyer, transmitting an order for fruit, upon payment of cost and transit and delivery charges. The only charge for this service is 2d, which includes postage on the order. The fruit is carried by the Railway Department to the station selected by the purchaser the charges being based on a'fixed scale* irrespective of distance. ' i t • -if . 'I

" .' ''■»'''- ■■■■' "4"'. ... FIXIIG m PRICES,

PROPOSALS IN PARLIAMENT MINISTER OF FOOD CONTEOIi 't WIDE POWERS SUGGESTED SALE HELOW EXPORT VALUE STATE TO~BEAR LOSS. INCREASING FISH SUPPLY. for TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Monday. The report of the Cost of Living Committee, which was presented to the Houso of Representatives to-night by Mr. C. E. Statham, is as follows:—The Cosft of Living Committee has taken sworn evidence of a large number of persons, including members of the Board of Trade, wholesale merchants, retailers, representatives of many other industries, the Wellington Trades and Labour Council, and. Govern* ment Departmental officers, and as the result of its investigations makes the following recommendations:—