ANOTHER RISE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17231, 24 December 1923, Page 6

ANOTHER RISE.

COST OF LIVING FIGURES. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, December 22. A further rise in the index number of the three food groups is indicated in the Government Statistician’s report on prices as at November 10. Tlio index number of the three food groups is now 1573, an increase of 13 points over that for the previous month, thus showing that the principal items of food cost 47.01 per cent more than in the pre-war years. The reasons given for this rise are that higher prices for potatoes and onions raised the grocery group by 13 points, while the increases in bacon and eggs in most towns sent up the dairy group by 16 points. A rise of 10 points in the meat group is due to a further rise in beef and pork in most toyns. The cost of living in New Zealand compared with other parts of the Empire is shown to have increased since the outbreak of war as follows: Per cent. fcouth Africa. . , .15 New Zealand . . .47 Canada . ¥ .41 India (Bombay) . .40 Australia . , .61 United Kingdom . . 73 Cost of living figures had been dropping since January. 1921, when the increase shown was 78.13 per cent over pre-war. The position at the date of the first reduction in wages by the Arbitration Court of os weekly tor adult male workers in April, 19*22, was 43.93 per cent over pre-war. A second reduction of 3s weekly was made m November, 1922, when the figures were 39.3-5 in excess of pre-war. They dropped to their lowest in January of this year, viz.. 38.60 per cent in excess of pre-war prices. Then the tide of prices began to again flow* against the consumer, and when it reached 41.68 per cent in excess of pre-war point at the end of March 1923. the Arbitration Court suspended further wage reductions. the President stating that the general position had undoubtedly improved but at least another good year was necessary to enable the Court to state that financial stability had again been attained. The sliding scale system lias since been abandoned, and wages will be fixed as the conditions indicate when awards are made