COST OF LIVING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 219, 16 September 1943, Page 6

COST OF LIVING

IJLEI T. J. B. COTTEKILL AT KEITH STREET Continuing his election crpipaign, Lieut. J. B. Cotterill, M.P. for Wanganui. addressed more than 50 electors at Keith Street last night. Mr. J. Barry presided. The candidate was given an attentive hearing. Dealing with the question of prices. Mr. Cotterill said there had certainly been an increase in the cost of living during the four years of peace under the Labour Government, but that increase represented in the main increased standards of living for the producers of goods. The people had enjoyed increased incomes which more than compensated for increased prices, and provided a much higher standard of comfort in the home than had obtained under other governments. Under th* 1 Nationalists, living was cheap, but the people couldn’t buy the cheap goods because of lack of purchasing power. It was always difficult to control prices in time of war, when goods were scarce, but Labour had been more successful in its control of prices than other countries. Since 1939 the cost of living covering all groups had increased in Great Britain by 29 per cent.. South Africa bv 23.5 per cent.. United States by 26.9 per cent., Australia by 22.4 per cent.. Canada by 16.7 per cent., but. the increase in New Zealand was only 13.4 per cent. The prices of many of the main essential foodstuffs rose iq price during the last war from 100 per cent, to 250 per cent., but under Labour's control these items remained unchanged in price during this war. The speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence at the end of his address.