HIGH-PRICED WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4488, 16 October 1901, Page 2

HIGH-PRICED WELLINGTON.

“Householder” write# a» follow*:—-A-r Seddon in five words struck a note that linds responsive vibration in the heart of ewry family men of stated eatery or limited means in thiscity. . The word* vere “Everything i» dearer in Welling* ten” (vide "Hansard,” October-1-) No truer words were ever spoken, and every housewife knows it. Bent is excessive, duo to the far too high price of laud mainly, and to the increased cost of building and building material; and the abnormally high rates charged by the City Council, which are dose on 20 per cent, of the rental. Thns a man with a bouse rented at £72 pays nearly £l4 per annum of rates ■ Meat, and nearly all kind* of provisions., are -dearer then either *n Christchurch or Auckland or in Dunedin, where rents are- also very much lower than here. Clothing is dearer here, unless perhaps -for- what the Customs tables call "clops;" that is ready-made imported garments. Mere firing and warmer clothing and .bedding stuffs; and more of them; are necessary here than in -Auckland, for example; and the family man and his household living on fixed salary or wages, from the outside workers and Civil servants of all - grades, require to exercise vigilance to make both ends meet. ■ All this is a severe handicap on all these classes. Private employers are often : generous or jut enough' to. take thee# circumstances inti account and make allowances to thW people, far the dearne— of living*. If this is not done in business and'mercantile houses,'and also In the Government services, the handicap prises— ell the more severely, and that pressure should dearly be lightened. As n rule, ail round fiO per ogpt. is the extra eo«t ot living in Wellington ns contrasted with Auckland and Christchurch.