COST OF LIVING

Otago Witness, Issue 3304, 11 July 1917, Page 49

COST OF LIVING

The Government Statistician (Mr Malcolm Fraser) lias taken the temperature of the cost of living in various localities in the dominion, and this month, in his monthly abstract of statistics, ho shows the result in graphic form. Taking the "annual average aggregate expenditure in the four chief centres, lthjO-13, equal 1000 as the base " as he puts it —it is found that Wellington is highest for rent, being 250 points above the rent riding in the 1909-13 period. Notwithstanding the essentially pastoral character of Taihapo, it is shown to be the place where meat prices are highest—viz., 6/7 points above those ruling for the 190913 period, whereas Wellington is only 327 points higher. In dairy produce prices Wellington leads by being 375 iJomts above the 191 W-13 period, and l\ T e\v Pyimouth, being the metropolis of a region flowing witli milk, if not with honey, is only 207 points above the 1909-13 period, and is a cheaper marketing centre in this respect than any other part ol the dominion. The lowest rents are paid- in Alexandra. They are down 523 pomts below the ruling rate of 1909-13, or, in other words, rents are half what they were. In Nelson meat is cheaper than elsewhere, although 231 points dearer than in the 1909-13 period. Auckland is lowest for groceries, and Alexandra's low rent is set off by its topping tho temperature for groceries. Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin aro all much higher in respect to their grocery bills than Auckland. The Government Statistician offers no explanation. Taihape enjoys the doubtful distinction of being higher than Wellington in its rent for three, four, and fiveroomed dwellings, ranging lrom 12s 6d to 18s per week respectively, but its six-roomed houses are 2s per week less than Wellington. Beforo-the-war prices (July, 1914) are comEared with prices current during May, 1917, y the Government Statistician, and they aro based on an average of the four centres. He assumes the following weekly household consumption of certain foodstuffs in caclX month. They show the following rises:—Bread, seven 21b loaves, 7£d ; flour, 31b, 2id} oatmeal, lib, lid; rice, lib, id) tea. £lb, l£d; cocoa, |d; sugar, 31b, 2ld; jam, 21b, 2^cl; raisins, ilb, Id; potatoes, 141 b, 5d j milk, seven pints, 2|d; butter, 31b, Is 2d; cheese, ilb, Id; bacon lib, sd; meat, sirloin, 3lb, 4|d; stewing steak, 21b, 3d; corned roll, lib, l|d; sausages, 21b, 3d; mutton, leg, 31b, sd; shoulder. 21b, 3d; chops, 21b, 3d. The aggregate increaso of May, 1917, over July, 1914, is 28.65 per cent., although in January, 1917, the increase was 30-87 per cent., accounted for presumably by the high price of which for 141 b then cost 2s 4d, as against 9|d in Jvdj, 1914.