COST OF LIVING COMMISSION.

West Coast Times, 21 June 1912, Page 3

COST OF LIVING COMMISSION.

.EVIDENCE IN AUCKLAND. ; T’f.u PRESS ASSOCIATION.- -COPYRIGHT. I AUCKLAND) June 20. The Cost of Living Commission op-'nod its sittings to-day. Arthur Withers, general secretary of the Land Valuers’ League, said that in the Dominion the landlords’ tribute in rates and taxes totalled no less than £22,500,000, which sum had to he carried by the useful people and handed over to landlords, to local bodies and the State before the heads of families began to receive anything to buy food and clothing tor themselves. Joseph Flanagan, farmer, expressed opinion that the increased % T alue of land was responsible for the rise in the oost of farm pvodr.ee.

F. Maclvill, farmer, stated that the price of dairy produce had increased greatly in recent years. ’ Albert Sanford, director of a local fish firm, said that the wholesale price of fish had risen. He denied that there was a ring of retailers in Auckland.