THE COST OF LIVING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19918, 11 April 1928, Page 11

THE COST OF LIVING.

COMMENTB BY 3MPORTER.

FACTOR OF THE FRILLS, The official cost-of-living statistics are not accepted as more than an indication of the purchasing-power of the pound by a representative importer who discussed the question yesterday. "I do not agree with the Government Statistician in his figures in respect of groceries," he said. "Steadily, and with little variation in the rate, the purchasjng.power of the pound in groceries ha 3 been increasing ever since 1918. I think the basis of computation is wrong. There are many things that are not actual necessities of life, things which can te done without and therefore must be classed as luxuries. There are groups of goods which to-day are as cheap as they were before the war; for instance, all dried fruits, which are excellent foods. Household soap went down £4 a ton recently, and there is tea to be bought for two shillings a pound and bacon for sevenpence. "The point I wish to emphasise is the difficulty of finding out what is the cost of living. This matter cannot fairly ba approached without recognition of the undoubted fact that since 1914 not only the purcLasing-power of money has been reduced but also the standards of living have risen. What are often considered necessities to-day were not so regarded before the war and if by a miracle pricelists were made exactly those of 1914, the money of the great majority of people ■would not go so far. Victims of Self-Deception. "I mentioned two shilling tea. Well, the people who used two shilling tea before the war will not have it to-day. They must have better, and I do not blame them if they can pay for it. I am not decrying the rise in standards of living, but when so many people keep sighing for the purchasing-power of 1914 it is just as well they should be reminded that their own habits very decidedly stand in the way. "The bacon that can be bought for eevenpence a pound is shoulder bacon but those who were content with shoulder in 1914 now want middle rib at one shilling and fourpence. "Take drapery. The sheetings and calicoes and prints of pre-war days will not satisfy many women now. They want silks and finer fabrics, and it is very nice that they can get them. By all means let them have these dainty thing 3 if they can pay for them, but why should they always talk about the high cost of living when there is often some reason for putting the 'high' before 'living.' Most of us are th 9 victims of a good deal of self-deception in this matter. "I will make bold to say that if a person is determined to live cheaply he can do so to-day, and in many groups v; ill make his pound go almost as far as it did before the war. Our trouble is that the lists of our 'musts' has increased considerably. Growing Up In the New Age. "Another point. Many people are trying to skimp on the real cost of living to enable them to pay for the frills. I haven't a word to say against the frills until I am attacked about prices of necessities. Let them have the frills by all means, but at the same time let it be remembered it is the frills which so often provide the difficulties. So - many people are keeping up such a contest with their neighbours and friends in this matter of frills that they are never out of trouble. "Yes, I admit the wage of many family men requires very careful household budgeting, but on the other hand of many unmarried men is enough to give them expensive habits. As soon as a warehouse youth is 22 years of age he must be paid £4 15s, and if he gives his mother £1 a week he imagines he is keeping the house. These young men are on an excellent wicket. They have grown up in the new age and naturally adopt the new standards without question. Their 'musts' are numerous and so are those of the young women. "However, there it is. If the people want so much more than formerly they have to pay for it, and that is certainly a factor that should not be forgotten in calculating the cost of living."