EDITORIAL.

Thames Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 10200, 1 May 1912, Page 4

EDITORIAL.

THE COST OF LIVING.

The results of the inquiry made by the editor' of the Labour Journal into the cost of living in .the four cihief oeoitrea are detailed. Some 1800 account booiks ■vvere distributed, but the writer expresses regret at the fact thiait the number of books i-e----cieiv'ed of any prac+idal use is only 69. The period co|v|ered by the returns was fr'oan October 1, 1910, to September 30, 1911, inclusive. The average inidome }>ci' %Veeki was £3 3s Bd, ranging from 12 8s to £?> 17s lOd, and the average expenditure was £2 19s id. The writer, after exhaustive analysis of the figures and of the result® of similar investigations in Australial, states that, excluding the expenditure on "other items," the New Zealand returns show 1, as do the Aubtrtilian, tha* the cost of food is by far the most important factor, amounting tt nearly 34 per cent, of thie total expenditure. Next comes housing, 20.22, then clothing, 14.47. and fuel and light, 5.20. It would appeal' from this, comparison, that, with the exception of "other items" and food, the •expenditure of Australian citizens was less than that of New. Zealanders. It should be borne in mind, however, that the comparison, although based on a common indomje standard, goes no further. In New Zealand, town workers were (foalt with! only; in 'Australia. !t.h|e| irleitaros weVel taken fronir all'classes living in large and small towns, and from dwellers in remote country placesl. In the 113 Australian returns dealt with, 62 dwelt in metropolitan airteas and 51 in rural districts.