The near agreement of these figures is a strong proof of their essential accuracy. We ultimately decided to take the average between the two sets of figures as representing the nearest approach to the truth at which we could arrive.
The second stage of our enquiry was to obtain representative household budgets, from which to compile the "weights" by which the individual price changes might be combined into a single final figure.
For this purpose a special Form was drafted (Form B6, a copy of which appears in the Appendix) and some 5,000 of these forms were despatched to National School teachers in every school in the country, accompanied by detailed instructions (of which there is a copy in the Appendix) of the method in which they were to be completed.
Notwithstanding the difficulties of the time when these budgets were called for, and the fact that a number of forms were held up and perhaps lost in the post, we were able to use 308 completed budgets of wage-earning households, received from 112 towns. This number was quite sufficient for our purpose. These budgets were excellently filled in, and, apart from the fact that such a number is in itself a fair guarantee of the statistical results obtained, we are satisfied for reasons given below of the substantial accuracy of the budgets.
The budgets received were from a very varied class of households, and as will be seen from the following list, embraced the principal industrial occupations. Labourers, Fishermen, Messengers, Servants, Pilots, Barmen, Carpenters, Boatmen, Building Contractors, Motor Boat Drivers, Plasterers, Ship Inspector, Stone Masons, Marine Engineer, Bricklayer, Mill-hands, Yachtman, Caretakers, Tailors, Post Office Workers, Housekeepers, Tailoresses, Gardeners, Herds, Dress-makers, Shop Assistants, Farm Stewards, Shoemakers, Charwomen, Dairyman, Cottage Industries, Laundresses, Egg Packer, Milliners, Washerwomen, Fowl Plucker, Shirtmaker, Hairdresser, Wool Sorter, Spinners, Smiths, Woodcutters, Embroidery Workers, Fitters, Sawyers, Hosiers, Boiler-makers, Wood-turners, Stitchers, Engineers, Body-makers, Knitters, Plumbers, Golf Caddies, Lace-makers, Machinists, Pointers, Road Engine Drivers, Crane-driver, Paper Maker, Motor Mechanics, Collier, Sextons, Car Drivers, Brass-finisher, Butchers, Carters, Bakers, Dealer, Chauffeur, Millers, Electrician, Tram Driver, Confectioner, Watchmaker, Railway Workers, Painters and Saddlers, etc.