COST OF LIVING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8736, 19 May 1914, Page 3

COST OF LIVING

CONDITIONS COMPARED IS WELLINGTON THE DEAREST TOWN? At the mooting of the council of tho Wellington Contra! Chamber of Commo7-co yesterday, a letter was received from Mr L. McXCcnzio, a member of the chamber, asking the council to combat tho statement that Wellington is .a more expoiuhvo centre .n which to live than either Auckland, Christchurch, or Dunedin. An interesting discussion on the cost of living generally followed. “This question,” said Mr C. M. Luke (president), “is one of tho most important that any body could tackle. It is so involved that no meeting could deal hurriedly with it. First of all, I know that in AVellington we used to lead the Dominion in the matter of high rents. In tho other three centres that I have recently visited, tho citizens complain that their rent is the highest in New Zealand. Tho rents in these centres, 1 found, were just as high as those in Wellington. Within a radius of a milo from the city's centre, the AVellington rents may be a little higher than the others, but within a radius of three miles the rents in all four centres are much about the same. The chief factor in these high rents is not land, though .ts value is high.” In the suburbs of AA'dllington, land values shrank considerably some time ago, and many investors lost money.. Much money was also lost by means of second mortgages. COST OF BUILDING HOUSES. “It is the cost of modern buildings that is the cause of high rents,” he declared. Thirty or forty years ago a good six-roomed house cost £SO a room —£300 —to-day tie cost was double. But, on the other hand, tho conveniences provided had greatly increased. At that time timber was delivered at any site at from 7s 6d to 9s 6d a hundred superficial feet. Every item to-day was from 50 per cent, to 100 per cent, dearer than it was twenty years ago. In addition, wages had gone up owing to the organisation to enable the worker to share in the benefits of increased trade and modern luxuries. And rightly- so.. But they must remember that if the wages of one section, of workers wont up, the wages of all sections should go up too. In the city of AVellington, they must remember that tho cost of excavation had to be added to the cost of a house in many oases. COST OF FOOD. ' But tho cost of commodities was an even more important factor in the increased cost of living. To-day they had a freer breakfast table than ever before. Previously, tea and sugar and dried fruits cost much more, but two important items, meat and butter, had gone up in price. Bread and milk were about tho same as twenty-live years ago. One .question was as to tho effect on prices of combines, it they existed, and this aspect came within the work of the chamber. The principles of economics lay at tho basis of the cost of living problem. So deep was tho subject that they could give a whole session to it without exhausting it. “AVe seek to create a condition of things that would give an equal opportunity to all to participate in the production of wealth in our midst,” said Mr Luke in conclusion. “The individual should work out his destiny for the highest good of tho community. In every body of employees, two or three will manage hy economy to secure their own home, and from-that basis these men have become employers. AVe may try to create those conditions to enable most to participate in the genera! wealth, yet some will always succeed while some will always fail.” LACK OF HOUSES. Mr G. AVinder suggested that the figures of tho cost of living in tho four centres bo obtained from tile Labour Department. Mr Luke pointed out that figures did not always give tho exact position of affairs.

Mr Wind or said that practically no speculative buildings were being put up in Wellington at the present time. Tills was an important aspect of the question, and with, fresh workers coming to Wellington / must be soon dealt with. Mr W. Smith said that ho knew of a leading builder at Kilbimic who had erected and let 100 houses. He could let fifty more if ho could put them up at the same cost as the first hundred. Mr J. W. Brodi© said that the remedy lay with the City Council, Many families wanted to go to the suburb© to live, hut were afraid o' the cost of transit. In the suburbs rents were often 50 per cent, cheaper than in town, and if tho council were to consider the question of family tram tickets, the pressure would he greatly relieved. Mr Leigh Hunt pointed out that the standard of comfort had been raised, as well as the cost of living. Ho blamed the extravagant tastes of the people for much of the increased cost of living. For example, drapers’ customers insisted on tho delivery of all articles, however small. He instanced a case in which a lady wanted a Is veil delivered a Jong distance immediately. This was a small point, but it was indicative of tho trend of tastes. A butcher sometimes had to take a couple of pounds of chops to the top of Mount Victoria. The cost of meat included the cost of transit. But even so, could one ohtaiu a shilling meal ten years ago equal to that which could be obtained to-day ? Voices; “No!” '

Mr Hunt thought that a universal tram fare would be one of the most sensible innovations that could be made to decrease the cost of living in Wellington. It was decided to appoint the president (Mr C. M. Luke), Mr J. W. Brodie, and the secretary (Mr A. J. Petherick) to draft a report showing that the cost of living in Wellington is practically the same as in the other three centres.