THE COST OF LIVING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15754, 28 February 1919, Page 8

THE COST OF LIVING.

INTERESTIN' - COMPARISON BEFORE THE WAR AND NOW. WELLINGTON, February 26. The question of tlte cost of living was before the Arbitration Court when the hearing commenced of the ironworkers’ and brass-moulders coachbuilders’ and plumbers’ application for an increased war bonus. Mr Malcolm Fraser, Government Statistician, gave evidence that certain questions had been submti detto him bearing on the. increased cost of living since the last award was made, respecting certain unions. He explained that the cost of living was arrived at by opportioning housewives’ weekly expenditure, and the percentage of this was: Food 34, housing 20, lighting 5, clothing 13, miscellaneous 28, total 100. In regard to the coach workers, Mr Fraser quoted the following figures, taking as a basis a journeyman whose wages in 1914 were .£3 6s per week. The figures in parentheses indicate the wage required at January, 1919 to reach pre-war value : 1914.—F00d £1 2s 5.28 d (£1 12s 4.873); housing, 13s 2.40 d (14s 6.45 d); fuel and light, 3s 3.60 d (4s 1.43 d); clothing, 8s 6.96 d (12s 10.44 d); miscellaneous, 18s 5.76 d (XI 0s 3.94 d). Mr Fraser explained in regard to clothing and miscellaneous, that the figures were estimates. The union’s last award was made in November, 1916, and the following was then the distribution of wages, the figures for 1919 being given in parentheses: Food, £1 3s 11.64 d (XI 8s 7.67 d); housing, 14s 1.20 d (13s 1.153); fuel and light, 3s 6.30 d (4s 0.64 d); clothing, 9s 1.98 d (11s 10.97 d); miscellaneous, 19s B.BBd (XI Is 5.653). In regard to the iron and brassfouriders, the position according to Mr Fraser, was as under:—Pood, £1 Is 11.67 d (£1 11s 8.77 d); housing, 12s ll.lOd (14s 2.81 d); fuel and light, 3s 2.78 d (4s 0.4 d); clothing, 8s 4.81 d (12s 7.22 d); miscellaneous, 18s 1.14 d (19s 10.853). The last award made for iron and brass-founders was in November, 1917, and the pro rata distribution of wages at that date was:—Food, XT 5s 11.63 fXI 8s 6.243): bousing, 15s 3.303 (15s 6.603); fuel and light, 3s 9.833 (3s 9.563); clothing, 9s 11.143 (12s 4.93 d); miscellaneous, XI Is 4.623 (Xl 2s 5.543). Tire position in regard to plumbers and gasfitters was the same as in the case of coach workers. The Court reserved decision.