Cost of Living.

Waikato Times, Issue 12187, 23 September 1911, Page 7

Cost of Living.

SOME INTERESTING FIGURES.

STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE.

Some interesting figures were quoted by Mr J. F, Arnold, in the House of Representatives recently, relative to the cost of living. He mjuoted the case of a Dumedin carpenter, whose wages in a year came to. £l3l 12a led, and whose expenses In one month amounted to £9 13s M, (made up as follows :—House rent (four rooms), £2 8s ; butcher, 15s (| grocer, £2 ; -baker, £l, vegetables 9/ ;i 'boots clothing., 16/6 ;, coal, 10'/ ;> milk 15/ ; newspaper, 2/ ;i sanitary charges, 2/6, lodge 4/8; union 2/. In addition, he had to pay for household reqiuisites in one year £5, doctor's fee £3 3s, nurse £& 2s ; total £ll ss. The mem'bier for Dunedim Central also quoted from a letter written, by a railway employee at Greymouth as follows :—"I know myself that I 'have not nearly the wages that will help me square month ,by month, and God' knows I do. try to keep out of debt. I can tell you that pay-day, has not much joy for me, I can honestly say that it is a wight ol much woe to me and my little wife to try to satisfy as many of, the waiting tradesmen as we can. There Is no thought of what balance we will 'have when the bills are paid. We well know that bills can never be pwtd at the present wages,"