H.—lB.

XXII

householder has probably risen to a greater extent in the smaller towns than in the cities. Mr. William Ferguson, managing director of the Wellington Gas Company (page 404), stated that since 1901 the price of gas was reduced from 7s. 6d. per thousand feet to ss. sd. in October, 1905, since when it has remained at the same price. Table 11. —Comparative Table op 1912 Gas-prices to Small Consumers. Per 1,000 Cubic Feet (net), s. d. Auckland .. .. .. .. .. .. ..43 Wellington .. .. .. .. .. .. ..55 Christchurch .. .. .. .. . . ..59 Dunedin .. .. .. .. .. .. ..50 With regard to electric light, Mr. Stuart Richardson, Municipal Electrical Engineer, stated that in 1900 the average cost of lighting a five-roomed house in Wellington by electricity was 7s. per month, and now it is about 4s. This is directly due to the introduction of the metallic-filament lamp. (c.) The following table gives the prices for different years at Christchurch (A. W. Jamieson, page 205) : —

Household necessaries,

Table 12. —Household Necessaries (Retail Prices).

1905. 1910. 1911. 1894. 1900. Sugar Pearl barley Cornflour Candles — National Wax s. d. 0 2| 0 2-| o H s. d. s. d. 0 2f 0 2-Jr 0 2-J 0 %\ 0 3i 0 3 s. d. 0 2\ 0 2 0 3 s. d. 0 2-1 0 2\ 0 3 Figs Dates Prunes Raisins Matches Pickles Vinegar Biscuits 0 7-i-0 7 0 6 0 10 0 5 0 5 0 9 0 6 0 4 0 5 4 6 1 1 11 6 0 11 0 8 0 61 0 7 0 6" 0 6 4 6 0 6 0 6 0 10 0 6 0 6 0 6 0 4 0 4 0 9 0 9 0 6 0 6 No alterations. 0 4 0 5 0 5-| 0 5 4 6 3 9 14 14 10 6 7 6 0 11 0 11 0 7 0 6 3 4 0 3 0 5 0 5 0 5 0 9 0 6 0 7 0 6 4 5 0 3 0 7 0 6 0 5 0 9 0 6 Honey Jams Salt 0 41 0 5 4 0 1 2 8 0 0 11 0 H 0 5 4 6 1 2 8 0 0 11 Pepper Kerosene Infants' foods Condensed milk — English Colonial Kippered herrings Starch (Colman's) Mustard Cream of tartar Carbonate of soda 0 8 0 11 2 3 . 1 7 1 4 0 4 0 8 0 11 0 5 3 3 0 6 0 2J 0 2 0 2\ 6/6 & 10/0 0 4 0 51 0 11 5 0 0 8 0 6 0 \0\ 0 8 2 3" 2 3 17 17 1 5 1 4 0 4 0 2 0 8 0 6 0 11 0 11 0 5 0 5 3 3 3 3 0 6 0 6 0 6 0 2£ 0 2 0 2\ 0 2 0 2-| 0 2 6/6 & 10/0 6/6-10/0 0 5 0 4 0 7| 0 4| 0 11 10 5 0 5 3 0 6 0 8 2 3 1 6 1 1 0 2 0 4 0 11 0 5 3 3 0 6 0 5 0 2 0 2 0 2 8/6-12/6 0 41 0 61 1 0 5 3 0 6 0 8 2 3 1 6 1 1 0 2 0 4 0 11 0 5 3 3 0 6 0 5 0 2\ 0 31 0 31 9/-12/6 0 5 0 7 1 0 5 3 Borax Baking-powder Arrowroot Cocoa (Van Houten's) Washing-soda, 7 lb. for Vermicelli, macaroni.. Rice Sago Tapioca Soap Currants Sultanas Sheep-tongues Tobacco rooacco