COST OF LIVING.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 30, Issue 29, 16 April 1918, Page 4

COST OF LIVING.

Mr W. A. Yeitch, member for Wanganui, in the course of the Address-in-Reply debate on the cost of living, said there appeared to be an idea abroad that the National Government must not be criticised, but that members must sit patiently by like dummies. In the interests of national unity, which the Government was supposed to stand for, he would have to charge the Government with having failed absolutely to prevent internal discord in the Dominion. The National Government accordingly was becoming increasingly unpopular with the people. The reason was that one section of the people was becoming increasingly prosperous at the expense of the other section. The Prime Minister was to blame in this matter.

Last session the Government had set up a Cost-of-living Committee. It was hoped that some of the recommendations from this, committee would be adopted, but absolutely nothing had been done. Yet Mr Massey had said this committee was one of the most intelligent committees that had ever been set up in the House I

One of the recommendations of the committee had been for the appointment of a Food Controller. The National Government wished to emulate the Imperial Government, but failed to follow its example in appointing a Food Controller. The appointment of such an official in New Zealand would be in the direction of doing justice to the wage-earners. But the Government had ignored the suggestion, as it had ignored the whole question of the cost of living. Another recommendation of the committee was for the reorganisation of the Board of Trade following on the appointment of a Food Control-