THE COST OF LIVING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 95, 22 April 1912, Page 4

THE COST OF LIVING.

In connection with the Labour Department’s investigation into the cost of living in the centres, it is worthy of mention that some interesting comparisons were made between New Zealand and Australian conditions, says the “N.Z. Times.” It was found that, on a somewhat similar wage basis Australian housing was IV per cent., clothing 2 per cent, fuel and lighting 1 1-5 per cent, cheaper than in New Zealand, whilst fond was 1 l-‘l per cent, and “other items” (1 1-5 nor cent, higher than in New Zealand, The Australian expenditure on “oi'nr items” gives ground for the assnmn tion that workers in the Commonwealth spend more in the way of sport and pleasure than New Zealanders. The expenditure on food .1 ing a general average over GO returns.

was £1 Os 2d per week in New Zealand, complied witli a general average of IDs 2d over 133 Australian returns. The expenditure on clotning in New Zealand averaged Is Dkl p i head per week, or £1 lls per year, while in Australia it was Is Did par week, or £1 12s per year, not a very great difference. Assuming the expenditure on various items per family in New Zealand to be represented by the index number 100, the expenditure in Australia is: Housing (id, food 80, clothing 92, fuel and light (37, other items 153. It is interesting to note that the expenditure on food appears to he lower in New Zealand than in a great many countries. Taken at per head it works out as follow: New Zealand 4s old, Tinted Kingdo m 4s 7td, Germany 4s Bid, Belgium Is 9;}, Australia 4s SUI, United State:; us sd, France 6s l;Jd. ,