THE COST OF LIVING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16507, 7 August 1919, Page 4

THE COST OF LIVING.

AIR. MASSEY REPLIES TO CRITICS. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, August 5. ‘‘While we are on tins suOjoct of polities, ’ said Air. Massey, "I should just like to make reference to criticism that lias boon levelled against the Coalition and its administrative work. The Coalition was formed for two purposes, namely, to enable us better to do our full simro in the war, and to keep the country prosperous during tho war, and jhat both objects have been 'Swflneved tnoroughly and well. That was the solo reason for tiio existence ot llio Coalition. It is not posoihlo to curry on ordinary domestic legislation during a war period such as wo have cxper.cuccd.

"Now, as to adverse comment respecting our cost of living measureo, I ask the people to compare Dio cost- of living in this country with that in other countries. In England to-day tho cost oi living is double what it is in Now Zealand, and in Franee it is 50 per cent, higher still. In Canada and America, also, look where prices have soared, compared with Now Zealand prices! Do you not think that if it had been possible to hoop the cost of living in these countries down to the level which we would all like to see, tliclr statesmen would not have done something to effect that reduction? It is absurd to argue that nothing has been done to check the upward tendency by the statesmen of the various countries where tho burden of life is so heavy to-day. Statistics will show that a very great deal has been done in Now Zealand to keep down tho cost of living. I know that increases have pressed heavily on largo numbers of pehplo of small incomes. Unfortunately tins was a matter it was impossible to remedy, but I challenge tho accusation that the Coalition Government has done nothing, or has failed to do everything possible. Only this morning I saw a complaint by a member of Parliament regarding the cost of living. My recollection is that that particular member was himself on tho Parliamentary Cost of Living Commit-toe, which made some valuable recommendations for tho future, but failed to discover a single case of exploitation. ,That committee had the opportunity of calling for anything in the shape of evidence and papers it considered necessary for its investigation. There is provision on tho Statute Book to the effect that any trader guilty of charging more than will ensure him reasonable profit, taking all circumstances into consideration, is liable to a fine of £2OO, or. in the case of a company, £IOOO. AVhy do not public men who complain about the Government, and tho cost of living do their duty in regard to that clause, and, if they know of exploitation, set the-law in operation against tho exploiters ?”