THE COST OF LIVING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14741, 21 October 1915, Page 2

THE COST OF LIVING.

THE PROBLEM OF PRICES. SIR JOSEPH WARD DEFENDS HIS SCHEME. WORK FOR THE BOARD OF TRADE. Since the close of the session, a certain amount of adverse criticism has been levelled at the scheme for the establishment of a Board of Trade to examine the problem of increased prices. The board is to be created under the Cost of Living Act, which was introduced by Sir Joseph Ward in the House of Representatives, and some people appear to be under the impression that the consumers (ire not goingl to be benefit ted at all by this legislation. They notice that prices are still soaring and form their judgment accordingly. Referring to this subject on Tuesday, the Minister for Finance said that he wafully aware of the nature and extent of tho difficulty that was confronting thousands of .people of limited and moderate means, and ho-felt very sincere sympathy with the sufferers. “But," he explained “the Government cannot remedy the trouble by a wave of the hand or a strobe of the pen. There are economic problemsinvolved in the situation that cannot he settled >in that simple fashion, lint the Government is doing its utmost to secure relief for the consumers, particularly for '-hose consumers who under normal eon ditions have to he content with little more than tho bare necessaries of life.

“The Cost of Living Bill of last scs sion was designed to give full eW' t the Commercial Trusts Act of 1910 an-' the -Regulation of Trade and Commerce Act of 1914, and to clear up several point, which were not made quite plain by those measures. Many people in criticising the Bill appear to have overlooked the fact that it had to be read with the law already on the Statue Book. It sets up a Beard of Trade, consisting of the Min istcr for Industries and Commerce and three paijl members, who will devote all their time to the duties of their office. No doubt capable men witji wide experi ence and entirely freed from other iu‘erests will be selected, and with their assistance the Minister will make, representations to the Government that can be put into operation at once. The whohmachinery for the regulation of prices ia now provided, and it will be set in motion directly the naid members of the board are appointed.”

“Do not misunderstand me,” added Sir Joseph Ward. “I believe the hoard will lo very excellent work and will afford \ll the relief that can possibly be afforded ■o the consumers. At anv rata, it will stop them from being exploited by greedv tradesmen. But the public must not expect it to effect impossibilities. The cost af imported goods can’t be regulated here. If the prices of tea and cocoa and cottons and other things have gone up in the countries where they are produced, we can't insist upon the importers selling them in New Zealand at a less. T'’a f would be unreasonable and uninst. But we can see that no one makes more than a fair profit.

“The penalty for anv breach of the law may be as much as ,£SOO, and the trades-'' man who risks having; to pav this amount need expect no merry when he is eanaht. The administration of the la'" I had the satisfaction of placing on the StatiCo Book' this session is not in my hands, hnt ;,I am sure the Prime Minister, who will he president of the hoard, is ns much in earnest .nhont the matter as I am, and that he will take care that swift retribution follows on the heels of the evildoers." Applications are heincr invited for the ■three paid positions on the Board of Pra-de, and it is exacted 'that macth-al wiU ho appointed.