COST OF LIVING RISES

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1923, Page 6

COST OF LIVING RISES

INCREASE IN FOOD GROUPS. FIGURE. POTATOES, ONIONS, EGGS, MEAT. The report issued by the Government Statistician on November 15, discloses a further rise in the index number for the food groups by 13 points. The number now stands' 1 .it 1573, whiel) is an increase of 47.01 per cent., as compared with the co it of the principal items of food in ’ pre-w’ar ye;Ws. The rise is attributed to the liigher- dost of potatoes and onions in the grocery group, the increase in egg prices in the dairy products group, and the rise in beef’and pork in .the meat group. The increase in the cost of living in New Zealand since the, outbreak of war, as compared with that in pares of the Empire, is as follows:— J

• When in April, 1922, the cost, of living had fallen to • 43.93 per cent, over pre-war, the’ Arbitration Court made a reduction of 5s weekly in the wages for adult male workers. A second reduction of 3s was made in November, 1922, when the figures were only 89.35 per cent, in excess of -pre-war. The lowest level was reached in January of this year, when the figures were at 38.66. Since then general instability has been apparent, with a rising tendency, and in March, 1923, the Arbitration Court suspended wage reductions and announced that wages would be fixed in accordance with the conditions obtaining when the awards are made. .

New Zealand . y .. United Kingdouj . ... t 47 per cent 73 jftr cent Australia . ...Ijf... .per .cent Ij$ja (Bombay) * ... 49 per cent b ,, 41 per cent ® South Africa ...... ..r., 15 per cent