HIGH COST OF LIVING.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11655, 10 June 1912, Page 4

HIGH COST OF LIVING.

[By Electric Telegram—Coi'\-nr'jnr.] (Per Press Association.) Sydney, .June 8. The Labor Congross'has recommended that-owing to the increased cost of living the old-age pensions be increased. (Per Press Association.) Christehurd:, Juno 10. 'PI 10 Cost- of Living Commission opened its Christehurch sittings this inovn- - Air-AY. H. Boaber, timber merchant, said in past years a rougher -class of timber was used ; to-day there was better classification. He did not know or anv ring /in business. -Wages had increased 15 or 20 per cent., and timber was further from railroads. Those facts, with the- improvement in public taste, accounted for the increase of prices. Accident insurance had -to "bo paid, and labor was less efficient. Sixteen men were now doing the work done by 12 a dozen years ago. Practically the whole of the- white pino went to .Australia. The areas-worked were too small to warrant the adpjvtion'of the cheapest means of traction. Dr F. Brittain gave evidence regarding the prices at Tcpukc, North Island, where traders had a monopoly, the cost of transit was heavy, the' roads neglected/the people apathetic, and thousands of acres were iinproductivc. "Mr H. W. Hislop, land agent, said the increase in population and prosperity wis the cause of the substantial increase in value, of laud mar Christchurch. No svstein of rating could hare stopped the, rise in values. The rents of four-roomed houses had fallenin the last decade, but houses were now better built and better equipped; than/formerly/-and cost more.