ON THE WEST COAST.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14831, 24 November 1913, Page 8

ON THE WEST COAST.

SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF SUPPLIES AT W.ESTPORT. FAMINE PRICES RULING. (SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") GREYMOUTH, November 23. The effects of tho strike are being eeverely felt throughout the ' West Coast. The Buller district, which is almost entirely dependent upon 6teamer communication with other parts of the Dominion, is feeling the pinch acutely. The shortage of supplies is most pronounced, the merchants there having been taken unawares at a time when their stocks were low. The result is that the people are to-day paying famine prices, and even then the supply is extremely limited. Sugar cannot be obtained at all; that, ir'lecd, is a condition common to the whole of

w^ 8 * <ast ' vhi, ° floar fc in very J?rt supply. The -Mangapapa reach! J Mtp P L rt on Frida y with SO tons of produce, the greater portion of it being Hoar, and this has temporarily Telieved the situation, but in providing for a community of 14,000 people this shipment is a mere "drop in the bucket," and the people are anxiously awaiting lor news of the departure from Lyttelton of the Defender, whose cargo would maintain the supplies of flour for a couple of weeks. The post office has been largely used as a means of getting supplies into VVostport, parcels of flour and sugar having been sent from as far distar.c as Christchurch. One woman, more enterprising than the rest, has arranged to obtain her bread per post from Canteroury. Bread is being sold at famino prices m Wostport, whilst practically all the country bakeries have closcnl down. The meat supply has practically given out. In Greymouth the *trKe 13 being severely felt b* local dairy:n!» companies, who are unable to ship their surplus products away. There «s no cold storage there, and unlw-; arrangements can be made for ihiixneiii shortly, a largo quantity of butter will bo valueless, a fact which wou'd entail heavy loss on the factories as well as on the farmers.

It is estimated that thero are 3050 strikers on the West Coast, to w.uch number --an be added anoihec 500 representing those compulsorily out or employment. The figures aro:— Buller miners ... ... 1600 Grey miners ... ... 1200 "Westport wharf labourcns ... ]00 Greymouth watersiders ... 150 Total ... ... ... 3050 Tho people seem reconciled to tho strike lasting till after Christmas, and some will bo even surprised if the mines re-open then. The conduct of tho strikers locally has been exemplary, but. of cour«>, no effort has been mado to introduce free labour.