REAL INCOMES IN NZ.

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 November 1947, Page 4

REAL INCOMES IN NZ.

LEVEL NOT EXCEEDED ELSEWHERE

(O.C.> Wellington Nov. 26. Written replies by Ministers to questions asked recently by members of the House of Representatives were tabled during the afternoon session today. "AU the available evidence supports the conclusion that real incomes <n this country are on a level not exceeded elsewhere,” said the Minister in Charge of Census and Statistics <Mr. Nordmeyer) in reply to Mr. J. B. F. Cotterill (Govt., Wanganui), who asked whether the cost of living indices referred to in a recent cabled statement were truly comparable, and whether the figure for New Zealand wat obtaiqed over as wide a range of commodities as that upon which the figures for other countries were based. "All the index numbers are equated to a 1937 base,” continued the Minister, "and New Zealand shows the lowest increase, followed at no great distance by the United Kingdom, Southern Rhodesia Australia and Canada. The figures quoted for all countries cover all the main croups of family expenditure—food, housing, fuel, lighting, clothing, drapery, footwear and miscellaneous items. "The retail prices statistics indicate the average change in retail prices, and as such have only a limited though important apnlication to the question of comparatively real incomes as between different countries. Relative changes in earnings, in direct taxation levels and in the availability of goods and services, are other reievant factors not measured by retail price indices." ADDRESSES TO W ATERSIDERS "How the time of their meetings is to be allocated is a question for decision by the Wellington Waterside Workers' Union." said the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraserf in a short reply to Mr. W. A. Shenl (Opp., Palea i, who asked whether, in view of the urgent need for the quick turn-round ct ships as a major contribution to the Aid for Britain campaign, the Prime Minister approved the practice of Including political propaganda addresses in the programme for stopwork meetings of the Waterside Workers’ Union. If this was not approved. what steps, if any did the Government propose taking to discoutage that practice? Mr. Sheat added it was recently reported that Wellington waterside workers, at a stop-work meeting, were visited by MrM. Moohan (Govt., Petone). Parliamentary Under-Secre-tary. and were addressed on the policy and legislative programme of the Government.