WHAT WILL BAKERS DO?

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 44, 15 November 1907, Page 6

WHAT WILL BAKERS DO?

CHRISTCHURCH VIEWS. (BT TELEGRArH—SPECIAL \ CORRESPONDENT.) Christchurch, Novembor 14. Until it is seen whether the attempts to effect a settlement of the coal-strike at Newcastle arc successful or otherwise, Christchurch coal' merchants aro not prepared to say very much as to the result of the'strike on consumers in New Zealand 1 . It is agreed, however, that if no. reconciliation is arrived at, we shall feel the pinch of ,a shortage in coal-supplies. ' . "New Zealand cannot.supply her own demands," said one dealer,' " and with a shortage of Australian coal thinks are bound to become a little awkward. ■ l'lilly 20,000 tons are imported, annually frorn Newcastle, and tho port of• Lytteltpn receives more of this than any other port in tho colony." As to tho stocks of Newcastle held m Christchurch, lie considered that about 3000 tons would bo a fair estimate. "If we can't get -coal from • Newcastle," •ho concluded, " things will' be pretty tight. The -gasworks are bound to suffer, hut probably they will be made-a first consideration by the Now Zealand mine proprietors. Sydney is the great trouble, as there is a tremendous coal consumption there, and they havo none at present. Tho threshing season is coming on, and tho,owners want Newcastle coal for their machines."

Most of the gas companies in Now Zealand, it appears,' use coal from the Maitland collieries —the district where tho present trouble began—but the Christclnirch Gas Company uses botli Maitland and Westport coal. l

Another coal merchant who lately visited Newcastle said that' the ■ proprietors had been preparing for the strike for some time, and wero riiady to carry on a protracted fight. The miners jiad been very unsottlod for some time, and'the owners thought that a'' strike might clear the atmosphere of tho continual disagreements which had beon rising. . The opinion was expressed by yet another coal merchant that " the consumers neod not fear an increaso in prices, as tho coal dealers were not likely to take a mean advantage of the situation.

As to that, we shall see. In the meantime, so- as to be on the safe side, careful householders are getting in good supplies, and the coal-carts are unusually busy to-day.