H.—lH

XXIII

The average price for these articles in 1894 was 100 ; in 1900, 104 ; in 1905, 95 ; in 1910, 92 ; and in 1911, 100. Other groceries do not seem to have increased more than 3 or 4 per cent, over the last fifteen years. Furniture appears to have remained at much the same prices, when the difference in style is considered. The demand now is for a simpler style of furniture, which costs less to produce. Earthenware, chinaware, glassware, cutlery, spoons and forks, hardware, hollowware, have quite recently increased fully 10 per cent. Prior to 1910 prices generally had not advanced. Evidence was tendered before the Commission as to the weight of packed foods. It was alleged that articles of food in every-day use were sold over the counter by grocers and others which were short in the reputed weights. One witness (Mr. F. W. Greville, p. 447) took particular pains to prove this allegation, and at his suggestion the Commission had the goods weighed on reliable scales. The Commissioners are satisfied that this witness was able to prove his allegations. To supplement this evidence and to get a more comprehensive idea of the extent to which this " short-weight " practice rules, the Commission asked Dr. Frengley, of the Health Department, to depute an officer to make a thorough investigation. Care was taken by the Department to secure reliable data, and the following list shows the articles purchased, price, how asked for, and gross and net weight:—

Short weights and measures.

Purchased in Wellington, 17th, 18th, and 19th August, 1912.

Description of Article purchased. Price. How asked for. Gross Weight. Net Weight. Pepper (K. brand) .. >) M Butter , ; . . . . j, . . . . . • Rice (in paper bag) Carbonate of soda (paper bag) 3) 55 Cream of tartar (paper bag) Flour (paper bag) .. 5? 5J Ground rice (paper bag) . .. s. d. 0 4 0 4 0 4 1 1 1 3 1 3 1 3 0 3 0 1 0 11 0 4 0 4 0 4 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 8 1 0 0 9 0 9 1 0 0 4 0 9 0 51 0 51 0 11 0 11 0 6 0 11 0 3 \ lb. tin of white pepper | lb. tin St. George pepper \ lb. tin Crease's pepper 1 lb. Comet brand butter 1 lb. Defiance butter 1 lb. Gold Leaf butter 1 lb. Primrose butter 1 lb. rice -\ lb. baking-soda 1 lb. carbonate of soda .. J- lb. cream of tartar 1 lb. cream of tartar 2 lb. flour 2 lb. flour 1 lb. packet ground rice 1 lb. ground rice 1 lb. packet Is. 4d. tea .. 1 tin Bell tea 1 lb. packet Is. 6d. tea .. 1 lb. Is. 6d. tea (Nelson-Moate's) .. 1 lb. Welcome tea 2 lb. bag of oatmeal 1 lb. tin pea-flour \ lb. tin Colman's mustard J lb. tin Sadler's mustard J lb. tin Bournville cocoa J lb. tin Van Houten's cocoa 1 lb. tin Edmond's baking-powder 1 lb. tin Whitlock's baking-powder 1 lb. packet Sun brand arrowroot (marked \ lb. gross) 1 lb. packet Duryea maizena 1 oz. bottle Crosse and Blackwell's essence of lemon 1 oz. bottle Sharland's essence of lemon 1 oz. bottle Sharland's essence of almonds 1 oz. bottle Sharland's essence of vanilla I oz. bottle cayenne pepperlb. 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 oz. 4 5 4 15 0 15 0 0 4 8 4 4 1 0 1 8 9 14 8 8 8 0 4 6 6 6 6 7 3 8 dr. 0 8 8 12 0 15 0 3 7 0 2 1 3 0 0 6 3 0 7 5 12 12 3 2 7 3 4 9 6 6 lb. oz. dr. 0 2 10* 0 3 8* 0 2 15* 0 15 10* 0 15 14* 0 15 13* 0 15 15* 1 0 0 0 4 5 0 7 14* 0 4 0 0 4 0 2 I 0 1 15 11* 1 0 0 0 8 4 0 8 1 0 8 8 0 7 4* 0 8 0 0 8 0 2 0 5 1 0 2 0 4 0 0 4 8 0 4 0 0 4 1 0 5 8* 1 0 2 0 7 7* Tea (D. Anderson's) " (Wardell's) .. l: 11 1) J) Oatmeal (paper bag) Pea-flour (Symington's) Mustard Cocoa ,, . . . . . ■ Baking-powder ,, Arrowroot Maizena Essence of lemon 0 31 0 9 0 9 5 0 8 8 1 fluid oz. 0 5 | fluid oz.* Essence of almonds 0 5 7 fluid dr.* ,. vanilla 0 5 7 fluid dr.* Ca Cayenne pepper (Lazenby's) . 0 6 0 3 3 0 1 0