THE COST OF LIVING.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1916, Page 8

THE COST OF LIVING.

To the Editor. Sir —Quite a number of letters have appeared in the News during the past few days concerning high wages, big prices for foodstuffs, etc. With a commission sitting here to make enquiries on the same mailer. those concerned ■would perhaps help to make their cause good >y volunteering evidence as to 1 where they know thev are being exploited by the business people. One correspondent draws attention to the difference betV.'cen the buying and selling prices of esgs. Well, a grocer informs mc that he is paying Is 7d per dozen for eggs and retailing at Is ltd. The same mail informs me that he makes a profit of '/jd 011 each packet of candles, anil paying cash 011 a box of candles he clears Is O'/od on the lot. Again, it is a positive fact that heads of families can purchase from across the counter tinned meats, fruits, etc., cheaper than some of the wholesale merchants can handle same. As far as groceries go, New Plymouth is well, served in the matter of getting good value for cash expended. Competition amongst rival firms is too Uc-en to allow any one to trade on a large margin, and it is safe io say that probably the difference between the wholesale and retail prices is five per cent., and certainly not above seven per cent. Other lines—drapery, for instance—also indicate that competition has cut the ,rices down to tin* lowest margin possible. " Live and let live'' is a good motto, and it is just as well for the general public to know that there are no budding millionaires amongst the grocers or drapers of this town, and not likely to be yet awhile. 'Probably the Commission may have 1 something to say about house rents being severe, but it remains to be seen whether there is legitimate e.iuse to cavil at prices charted in this town. It would be intere-itiug io see. if pos--1 sible, how New Plymouth prices compare with Wiing.inui and Palmevstoii , North.—l am, etc., TOO P. OLD FATHER. Ju'.v 20, 19iG.