COST OF LIVING

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20668, 1 December 1938, Page 10

COST OF LIVING

COMMENT ON EFFECTS BURDEN ON BUSINESS REMOVAL OF ANOMALIES “ The action of the Government,” stated Mr A. G. Ward, president of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, “ in increasing rail charges at this period of the year, brings home to everyone the price we are paying for so-called i better times. The necessity for the increase has been obvious for some time but it is regrettable that it had to be* impose after most people had budgetted for their holiday travel. “ The increase in freight charges will be a further impost on the business man’s expenses and will still further increase the cost of living. It is some consolation to local traders to note that the anomalous charges operating in this province whereby it is, for example, cheaper to send goods to Hamilton from Auckland than vice versa, are to be revised from April next.” “ It is inevitable that the extra cost we will have to meet will be passed on to the consumers,” said Mr B. E. Woodhams, manager of Messrs 11. and J. Court, commenting on the higher freight charges, this morning. “ However,” he continued, “ that extra cost is not likely to be very noticeable so far as our business is concerned.” “ As the Government controls the transport I suppose we will have to grin and bear it,” Mr Woodhams concluded.