LETTER FROM SYDNEY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 76, 22 January 1947, Page 5

LETTER FROM SYDNEY

MR J. CREEKE WRITES

An interesting account of conditions at present obtaining on the other side of the Tasman is contained in a letter written home by Mr J. Creeke, a well known resident of Whakatane, who for the past few months jias been spending a holiday in Australia. Commenting on the wharf strike in New Zealand, he says:—

“Just now, they look upon wharf strikes as a .permanent headache over here. At the moment gas is off —most of the cooking is done over fires in the back yards. There is no rrieat—all the butchers have closed up. Taxi drivers have joined in, whilst iron workers and moulders have also thrown in their lot with the strikers. Shipyards and docks have been closed down for weeks, whilst coal miners have a regular pastime—coming on and off! Other unions are due to go out next week by all accounts. These include transport workers (trams, railways and buses). Milk suppliers are also considering, action. The-only thing that is needed to complete the whole routine is for the Police and Fire Services to join in.

The Black Market

Living in Australia, Mr Creeke continues, is more expensive than in New Zealand. The black market, he claims, has been reduced to a fine art. Although there is actually no shortage of goods, the black market has control of the marketing, and everyone is merely making sure of his cut in the sales.

“In spite of the dismal picture I have painted” concluded Mr Creeke, “we are all having a glorious time, and motor everywhere in friends’ cars, Fire Brigade vehicles and Police cars. . Our transport is a source of great pleasure, and we have availed ourselves of it to look up many old friends.”