Form A.

DIRECTIONS.

1. All prices should be quoted in pence, and should be cash prices at the shop (not delivered).

2. Please note the quantity mentioned in the first column in each case, and let your figures correspond.

3. If actual prices paid for any item are not available—leave space blank. Do not estimate.

4. The figures quoted for the month of March, 1922, should be those prevailing on the date on which you fill up the form.

5. In the column headed "Observations," please furnish any particulars concerning the retail prices of food in your district, which, in your opinion are worthy of observation.

6. Fill in on the back page of the form particulars of the sources from which information as to the prices of the commodity has been obtained, for example:—

7. The figures representing the majority of the sales are the figures required. Exceptional prices are of no value.

8. In every case you should check your information, whether given of your knowledge or after investigation by enquiry from more than one source.

RETAIL PRICES OF CERTAIN FOOD COMMODITIES IN _________________________
AT UNDERMENTIONED DATES. (City, Town, or District).

Form A—CONTINUED

Form B 1.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILLING IN SPECIAL FORMS FOR RETAIL PRICES.

(1) The necessary inquiries for filling up these forms should be made immediately.

(2) The returns duly completed should be posted so as to reach this Office not later than Thursday, 22nd June. Please do your utmost to post them as early as possible.

(3) Get the information from the shops most frequented by the wage-earning classes. Prices representing the kind, quality, etc., on which these classes spend most money are the prices required.

(4) Please note the quantity for which the prices of each commodity are to be quoted.

(5) All prices on Forms B 2 and B 3 should be quoted in pence (but correct to farthings)—thus Sugar 5-3/4d. per lb.

(6) Give actual prices. If you cannot get them leave blanks; do not give estimates or averages. For prices for the dates prior to June, 1922, get the Shopkeepers to look up their books.

(7) All prices should be cash prices at the shop (not delivered) they should represent the majority of sales and they should be checked by inquiry from more than one source.

(8) (a) Get prices in all cases from Shopkeepers, giving on each Form the names and full postal addresses of those who supplied the information for that Form.

(b) Give exact descriptions of beef, mutton, etc., where you are asked to do this on the Form.

(9) Give on the space provided on each Form any explanations or observations which you think would be helpful.

Form B 2.

Form B 2—CONTINUED.

Form B 3.

Form B 4.

CLOTHING OF WAGE-EARNING CLASSES.

Retail Prices in ___________________________

The prices for 1914 must refer to exactly the same type and quality of articles as for 1922, which must be of a description in general demand amongst wage-earning classes in 1922. In all cases of clothing it is the ready-made article that should be priced, except as regards men's suits, men's trousers and men's overcoats, for which two sets of prices, (1) ready-made, (2) tailor-made, should be given.

Form B 4—CONTINUED

(E).—Materials purchased by Wage-earning Classes (same kind and quality at each date).

(F).—Names and full postal addresses of shopkeepers, firms, &c., from whom information on this Form B. 4 was obtained.

(G).—Observations.

Signature _______________________________

Date ______________________

Form B 5.

This Form should be returned by the day of June, 1922.

REPRESENTATIVE RENTS PAID BY WAGE-EARNING CLASSES IN _______________

I.—WHOLE HOUSE OCCUPIED BY ONE FAMILY.

I.—The houses referred to below should be representative of wage-earning class dwellings in as many different districts as possible. Houses owned by the Local Authority should be indicated by an asterisk placed after the postal number; such houses should only form their due proportion of the number mentioned below since the Return is required to show the true average change in rents in all wage-earning class houses. Rents of actual houses should be given: different rents are not to be averaged.

Form B 5—continued.

II.—PART ONLY OF HOUSE OCCUPIED BY FAMILY.

II.—The houses or tenements should be in as many different districts as possible and the particulars should be representative of wage-earning class accommodation in those districts. Actual rents are to be given: different rents are not to be averaged.

Form B 6.—Page 1.

HOUSEHOLD BUDGET.

Particulars for all persons in a household at _________ Co. __________ during the seven days ended ___ June, 1922.

(Note.—Particulars for each person should be given, one line being devoted to each).

Form B 6.—Page 2.

QUANTITIES AND COSTS OF ARTICLES CONSUMED DURING THE
SEVEN DAYS ___ JUNE, TO ___ JUNE, 1922.

Form B 6.—Page 3.

COST OF CLOTHING (INCLUDING BOOTS AND SHOES) FOR
THE TWELVE MONTHS, JULY, 1921, TO JUNE, 1922, INCLUSIVE.

As it is exceptionally difficult to obtain representative costs of clothing, you are earnestly requested to help the Government by going to the greatest pains to give below the most accurate figures you possibly can for the cost of the clothing (including boots and shoes) used up by the household during the twelve months, July, 1921, to June, 1922, inclusive. Costs of materials purchased for clothing (e.g., cotton for children's dresses) should be included, any costs of making-up should be added. Material purchased for making up articles for sale should not be entered. Costs for repairs and alterations of Clothing (including boots and shoes) should be included. For Articles which usually last more than twelve months include below only the proportionate cost for the twelve months. For instance, if an overcoat is usually bought only once in three years, enter below only one-third of the price; even if the overcoat was purchased eighteen months ago, one-third of the cost should still be stated below. If the exact amount of money spent during the twelve months on, for instance, boys' stockings, cannot be remembered, but if it is known that a pair lasts about four months, then include below three times the price of the last pair. The lists below are intended for your convenience; some of the articles may not have been used, others more important than some mentioned may have to be included with minor expenditure under "Other Clothing."

Observations on costs of clothing (including Boots and Shoes):—

Form B 6.—Page 4.

COST OF FUEL AND LIGHT FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS,
JULY, 1921, TO JUNE, 1922, inclusive.

As the cost of fuel and light is so different in winter and summer, will you please state below, as accurately as possible, the expenditure on fuel and light by the household during the past twelve months, and the corresponding quantities of the items consumed.

Form B 7.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR DEALING WITH HOUSEHOLD BUDGET FORM B 6.

1. Select the household with one or more wage-earners for which you can give the most reliable particulars. You can choose any type of household you think fit, it does not matter whether it be a household even of twenty or even of one, whether comfortably off or poorly off, with many children or with few or no children, with several wage-earners or with only one, with no men, with no women, with a visitor, with a servant, etc., provided the household chosen is one of the wage-earning class. This will ensure that taking the country as a whole the budgets will represent every day conditions and avoid anything exceptional.

2. If you select a household with a plot or garden in which food is produced, or one with fowl or pigs, etc., a note to this effect should be made under "Observations."

3. Make no statement which would identify the household for which you send an account; as a further precaution the individual returns will be treated as strictly confidential—your figures will be used only in totting them with figures in a large number of other budgets in order to arrive at averages, etc.

4. If you live with a wage earner and give the budget of your own house, do not state that the household is your own, but you will of course place the word "teacher" on one line in the occupation column of the first table (a teacher is not necessarily a national school teacher; in any case the budget will be treated as strictly confidential).

5. If you can get accurate particulars for the days of the current week, do so. If not, would you ask the householder to keep an account for the seven days immediately following the receipt of this communication. Post your budget so as to reach here by the 30th June, at latest. Spend all the time you can spare to get the particulars as accurate as possible.

6. Under "Observations" on each page give any remarks that may be helpful, especially explanations of unusually large or small figures. The budgets will be closely scrutinised.

7. Do not stamp the envelope; it will come post free.

Form B 7—continued.

Page 1.

8. Give a line to each individual in the household from the oldest to the youngest. In the summary table include as earners any who earn even a few shillings. In case short time or only a few hours were worked this should be stated under "Observations."

Page 2.

9. Get the quantity and cost of the items consumed in the week. In most cases it will be accurate enough to state purchases during the week, but where there has been an unusually large purchase of food, etc., to last more than one week (or an unusually small purchase owing to a large quantity being in hand at the beginning of the week) give the quantity and cost of the week's consumption. You are, however, definitely instructed to state the purchases during the week of such articles as "clothing, boots and shoes," "crockery, hardware," etc., and of all such goods which are intended to last more than one week. If any article (e.g., a suit of clothes, etc.) is purchased on an easy payment system give the total cost—not the amount of the instalment. It is anticipated that a small number of budgets will contain abnormally large figures for "clothing, boots and shoes," etc., and in such cases particulars should be given under the "Observations."

Loads, creels, etc., of turf should be converted to the equivalent weight.

Rent.—The figure required is to include rates. If the household owns the house, this should be stated and the equivalent rent (including rates) should be given. If the household do not occupy a whole house, this should be stated.

10. You will observe that the week's expenditure will not necessarily be the same as the week's income.

Pages 3 and 4

11. The difficulty of giving as accurate figures on pages 3 and 4 as on pages 1 and 2 is recognised, but you are earnestly requested to do the very best you can to give reliable figures. Under "Observations" on the last page give an indication of the degree of accuracy of your figures.

12. Do not send a budget at all unless you are satisfied that the figures are reliable on the whole.

PRINTED BY A. THOM & CO., LTD., DUBLIN.
16459. 750. 9. 1922.