THE COST OF LIVING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2850, 28 October 1908, Page 43

THE COST OF LIVING.

THE CENTRES COMPARED. Tie Labour Department' 6 Journal for October contains a comparative table of the* prices of commodities and rente charged in the four chief centres of

New Zealand, as on August 29, last. It shows that b.read stands at 3^d the 21b loaf in each of the centres, but flour varies from 3s 2^d in Christchurch, to 3s 6d in ! Wellington for 251b bags, but both Wellington and Christchurch give only 61b of flour j for Is, while Dunedin gives 71b for the I same money. Butter rides as Is 5d per lb all round, except Auckland, 16 4d, and the dairy-made article ranges from Is per lb in Auckland to Is 4d in Dunedin.

Jam is 4d and 5d per tin in each of the four centres ; but treacle is 25 per cent, oheaper in Auckland than elsewhere. Wellington's prices for eggs are Is 8d per dozen, against Is elsewhere, Wellington gas is 5s 5d per 1000 feet to Auckland's 4s 6d. Taken altogether, the cost of living, as shown by the scheduled prices, is about the same in each of the four centres. Some j things are dearer, other things are cheaper, '

in Wellington than elsewhere. For example, cauliflowers in Christohurch are priced at le 6d 2s, while 6d ie the quotation for this vegetable elsewhere; fish, too, costing 6d in Wellington, realises Is 9d in C-hristehuroh ; but in Christchurch, on the other hand, peas are obtainable at 4d per lb, while they cost 8d per lb in Wellington. It ie in rente that Wellington outshines the other cities. Here four-roomed houses

fetch from 14s to 18s a week; fi\e-roomed, i 18e to 27s 6d; six-roomed, £1 to £1 12e 1 6d; seven-roomed, £1 6a to £1 15s. The rente elsewhere, for houses in the order ! of rooms named, would be (according to the official returns): Auckland, 10s -6d to I 12s 6d; 12s to 15s; 16s to £1 Is; £1 to £1 ss. Christchuroh. 9s to 15s; 11s to. 18s; 12s 6d to £1 2s 6d; and 15a to £1 10 c Dunedin, 10s to 13e; 12s to 17s; 17s to £1 2s 6d; and £1 Is to £1 10s.