The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 79
Instructions
Instructions.
For some years it has been the desire of the Department to obtain some reliable statistics in regard to the cost of living, but the difficulty has been to get a method. In the Commonwealth of Australia inquiry has been instituted, and particulars have come to hand as to the means adopted. It is now proposed to conduct an inquiry here on similar somewhat lines, but on a more united scale.
I enclose herewith a few sample booklets which it is proposed to issue to 750 workers in each of the four chief centres. These will be sent to you later for distribution. If possible, we wish to limit the inquiry to married men who are supporting children under, say, fourteen years of age, and where the father is the sole breadwinner, earning £250 per year or less. All odd cases such as where no rent is paid, where boarders are kept, or rooms rented, &c, should not be included. With the booklets will be issued circulare containing full instructions as to the method of keeping the book.
Will you please report to me promptly whether you anticipate any difficulty in distributing these 750 copies, and generally what steps you propose as to their distribution. I suggest that you obtain the cooperation of the union officials in this matter; but I would like you to consult other workers not connected with unions, such as persons engaged in clerical pursuits, either in the Civil Service or in private business concerns.
It should be understood that the whole of the information is to be treated as strictly confidential, and the names of the persons giving the information need not be entered on the booklets themselves; but it is advisable that yon should keep a list showing all the persons supplied, so that the forms may be collected at the end of the twelve months.
The books sent were not all issued. Despite the efforts or" the agents not more than 1,800 were distributed, but even if 50 per cent, of these had been returned to Wellington at the conclusion of the twelve months it would have enabled the Department to compile even more useful and interesting returns than those which follow. It is therefore a matter for very great regret that the actual response has been so disappointing. The number of account-books received of any practical use number only sixty-nine. Most of the householders concerned reported that the books had become disused after some weeks, while others bad lost them. It was evident, however, that the long period over which the book had to be kept, combined with the work entailed, were responsible in the main for the poor result. Several books outside the sixty-nine were rejected on account of their unreliability, a scrutiny showing that the figures were incorrect or exaggerated.
The period covered by the New Zealand returns was from the 1st October, 1910, to the 30th September, 1911, inclusive.
Income. | £ | s. | d. |
---|---|---|---|
From earnings of husband | |||
*From other receipts | |||
Total | |||
Expenditure. | |||
Rent Food—Bread | |||
Meat | |||
Vegetables and fruit | |||
Milk | |||
Butter, cheese, &c. | |||
Sugar | |||
Tea, coffee, &c. | |||
Other food Other groceries (not food) | |||
Non-alcoholic beverages | |||
Alcoholic beverages Tobacco, cigars, cigarettes | |||
Clothing, drapery, boots, &c. | |||
Fuel and light | |||
Fares: Railway, tram, bus, &c. | |||
† Insurance : Fire, life, &c. | |||
†Contributions to benefit societies. &c. | |||
†Education : Fees, school materials, &c. | |||
Medical attendance, medicine, &c. | |||
†Rates and taxes Sport, amusements, club fees, &c. | |||
Sundry expenditure | |||
Total | £ |
In addition, on the first page, householders were asked to give the town in which they resided, street address, number and ages of children, and occupation of husband. A specimen page, properly filled in, was printed and issued with each book, together with instructions for guidance of those helping with the inquiry.
Early in October, 1911, the books were called in, stamped envelopes being supplied to householders for the purpose of sending them to the Head Office.
The result of the Australian inquiry was published in December, 1911, and it was decided to follow as closely as possible the headings of the several returns compiled and published by the Commonwealth Statistician. For comparative purposes alone this course had much to commend it, although the divisions of family incomes could not be made in the same way. The Australian returns divide incomes into two classes—viz., over £200, and £200 and under. In the New Zealand statistics there are three divisions—viz., over £169, between £143 and £169, and under £143. With this exception most of the returns are similar to those published for the Australian Common wealth.
* Specify "Sale of eggs, vegetables, &c.." as caso may be.
† These items should be entered for the particular week or month In which they are expended.