COST OF LIVING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20043, 4 September 1920, Page 8

COST OF LIVING.

* I MEMBERS INQUIRE AS TO PRICE OF BUTTER. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, September 3. Many complaints are being made by retailers that •■''ey cannot secure supplies of butter, eaid Mr M’Callum in the House to-day. Ho also wished to know, as other members have inquired daily for a fortnight, what the now price will bo. Mr Massey explained that the Goveminent had held back sufficient of the last season’s output to last till tho end of September, and the Government had no intention to make a profit out of this supply until it was exhausted. Colonel Mitchell: What will be tho price of the fresh supply? Mr Massey: That’s another story. Mr M’Combs pointed to the latest cost living statistics, showing another rise of 49 points, which meant 5 per cent increase in one month. H 0 suggested that the position was so altering that it ought to be referred to a select committee to make recommendations to the Government. . The Prime Minister replied that ho intended referring the question of butter prices to a select committee next week. He had no objection to allowing the committee to consider tho more general question of tho cost of living. *