THE COST OF LIVING

Southland Times, Issue 17060, 5 June 1912, Page 5

THE COST OF LIVING

COMMISSION AT DUNEDIN. SOME INTERESTING EVIDENCE. (Per United Press Association). DUNEDIN, June 4. The Royal Commission appointed by the Government to inquire into the cost of living in New Zealand opened its sittings in Dunedin this morning. Mr E. Tregea-r presided, other members present being Messrs A. Fairbairn, E. Hall, McDonald, Veit oh, M.F., and Robertson, M.P. In reply to a question, the Chairman said that the Commission would remain in Dunedin about a week.

The first witness was Steve Boreham, who described himself as “General labourer, tradesman, sallraaker, shearer, blacksmith, etc.” He said that the price of clothing had remained unaltered, despite Customs remissions. He contended that the high price of butter was due to foreign agents clearing the market and creating a shortage. The remedy would be to get these agents on to the land. He declared that agents purchased sheep from farmers at 10s to 12s each, yet butchers paid as much as 23s fid each at Buhnaide. The commission agents were to blame foe running up the prices of commodities. Butchers did not, as a rule buy direct from farmers, being mostly tied to auctioneers or firms employing agents. George Joachim, managing directors of the Westport Coal Co., said that the effect of awards of the Arbitration Court in the coal mining industry had been to Increase wages; but the Westport Co. had borne the Increases so far and had not passed them on to the public. The wholesale price of coal during the last ten years was 5 per cent, less than during the preceding ten years. There had been no rise in the price of coal, except within the last few months. Possibly State competition had sharpened the company up a bit. The company had two collieries, and had an arrangement with the Union Co. to provide the steamers nequired, and send them wherever the Westpert Coal Co. directed. The Company’s miners had the most regular employment of any in Australasia. There was no arrangement to regulate the price of coal. His household expenses for the laat five years showed an increase of 8 per cent, over those o£ the previous five years. Wages to indoor servants had increased 33 per cent, and rates also had increased. T. J. Sullivan, merchant, said ho had been exporting since 1389. In his opinion prices had not increased to the public within that time. He kad tried four years of retailing fish, poultry and rabbits; but he had been glad to get out of it, owing chiefly to the harassing effect of labour legislation, labour department officials and labour unions. There was competition in the wholesale fish trade and no corablnarion to control the market. There was a union of 'fishermen at Port Chalmers to limit the catches and regulate supplies. Private people who thought they were getting a grtiilling s worth of fish really got 4d worth of fish and 8d worth of service. He believed in a wholesale market for fish. Italian fishermen here seemed to do best. Aoconnt sales he had Been were as high as £2O per boat equal to £lO per man for a'week. The standard of living had increased. . ~ , ~ Steve Boreham, on being recalled, said he had ascertained that there was a ring amongst butchers in Dunedin, whilst those buying potatoes in small quantity—that was the householder— paid greatly enhanced prices on those paid by the wholesale man. A witness vouchsafed the information that in the matter of the purchase of furniture those buying on the time payment system paid at least ten per cent, more than if they bought outright.^ The Commission adjourned until Wednesday, and will probably sit in Dunedin until Saturday.