THE COST OF LIVING

Wairarapa Age, 2 January 1913, Page 3

THE COST OF LIVING

Mr Ramsay Mac Donald, writing in the London Daily Chronicle last month devotes an interesting column to a summary of the results of the inquiry made in this Dominion by the Cost of Living Commission. He describes the Coinmiss-iaoners' report as "one of the most interesting documents ever issued by a Government/' and states that the lesson to be drawn from the report is that trusts and protective tariffs are operating against the machinery of the industrial Arbitration Courts to prevent the people of New Zealand maintaining their high standard of living. He quotes with, approval the statement in the report that "highly protected industries mean that the farmer," gold-miner, coal-miner, flax-miller, gum-digger, and all people employed outside protected industries, including operators in such industries, mustpay more for their living," and that "highly protected industrial have increased the cost of living to 95 per cent, of the people." Her e would be trusts, without tariffs, no doubt; he says, but where there are tariffs trust? have specially dangerous power, Amongst our "trusts" Mr Mac Donald singles out for special mention the Merchants' Association and tllie shipping companies. The outstanding lesson to be gained from New Zealand's present condition according to this authority as that protective duties can never help the workers of a country. "New Zealand," he says, "hag joined the.ranks of those countries that, having raised nominal wages and pursued a fleeting advantage bv sheltering their workshops behind tariff walls, .are now; confessing that povowty return? to them once more, have come to the end of their advantages, and that their people are still baffled in their pur'/uit of abiding cqyifort. Tf everybody who talks oi.waat'-s and. tariffs are* Bneli-like elusive benefits -would Commit this renert to" Rpa.rt. Great Bjkitain. In- .."striking out !.-•> ihjer owii M| m'ifdit yet sh«v ihe world: hoW Pd!L of iivin.j- which increase faster than peonies incomes."'