FOOD STUFFS IN THE CITIES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1894, 31 October 1913, Page 9

FOOD STUFFS IN THE CITIES.

CHRISTCHURCH; NO SHORTAGE THOUGHT LIKELY. (By Telegraph,—Press Association.) Christchurch, October 30. , Inquiries wero made in Christclmrch ns to what tho position would bo in the event of a strike occurring locally, touching tho supplies of coal, sugar, and other commodities. A well-known coal merchant stated that, while local stocks of coal were not too well established, he : did not think thero would bo any serious pinch in the event of a strike. Tho railways and the'Christchurch Gas Company amd other big consumers have maintained heavy stocks, and are in a fairly good position to withstand a siege. The local freezing companies,' which use principally New 7 Zealand coal, will not bo starting operations for somo weeks yet, and are therefore not perturbed at the prospect of a strike. llegular shipments of Newcastle coal haVe been arriving all tho winter, and . are still coming to hand.. Tho coastal coal trade has not been very brisk this winter, and tho Union Company has had a number of its colliers laid up. Tlio approach of summer and warm'-weather is regarded as a favourable factor, as tho demand for coal for household, purposes is bound to decrease. _ A prominent merchant discussed the situation, and while he hoped that for all parties concerned tho strike would not oventuato locally, he staged that tho merchants'. position was not a serious one. Thero was no doubt that 6tocks of sugar particularly were not sufficient in any centre in Now Zealand; in Canterbury not more than ,threo weeks' supply was held, ■ and thero had been no inducement to merchants to carry big stocks. If tho strike wore confincd to Wellington and Auckland supplies of sugar could bo drawn from Sydney. In tlio event of a protracted strike inconvenience was bound to be felt in respect of several lines of goods, notably canned salmon and other fish, and dried and canned fruits, and Christmas and seasonable provisions. Tho new season's Christmas dried fruits wero on tho water, and definite advico liad been received that tho first shipments would reach Lyttclton about the end of November. lii any caso stocks of last season s fruits 'in every centro wero • probably quito ample to carry on over tho next few weeks. In regard to general goods, not much inconvenienco wis likely to bo felt in the event of a strike. Stocks of tea, coffee, cocoa, pickles, and other commodities, including flour and oatmeal, were quite sufiicient to last for at least three months. , Another merchant said that Ins trade was least likolv to be affected by tlio strike but the oversea export trade would feel the result very seriously ditriii" tho next four or six weeks especially. So would this be tho caso m regard to butter and cheese. PINCH IN FRUIT. THE POSITION IN THE SOUTH. Ono of the earliest effects of tho strike, says a Christchurch Press Association telegram, is tho rise in tho price of fruit in this city, owing to shortage of supplies. Bananas, instead of dropping to 15s. n case, tho usual price at this time of tho year, have gone up 25 per cent,, to 20s. a case. Oranges, lemons, and niandaiins aio exceedingly dear, Sydney exporters not caring to'tako the risk of -'forwarding

fresh supplies to New Zealand, owing to tho strike. One local auctioneering firm has 240 cases of bananas stuck up in Wellington, and another 150 cases upon the Tofua, and another has 400 cases shut up in Wellington. This is only tho beginning of things, and it is estimated that if tho present state of tilings continues for another week or so there will bo no fruit at all in the city, and fruiterers may then as well shut up shop. A Press representative, was informed to-day that if tho strike continues for any length of time supplies of sugar in Christchurch will run out, the city being dependent on Auckland for supplies. As far as other groceries are concerned, it is not anticipated that there will be any marked shortage. PALMERSTON. ' SUGAR AND FLOUR SHORT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Palmerston N., October 30. Although it was at first genoraliy thought that the effects of tho staikc would not be felt locally in a very pronounced manner, inquiries made yesterday show that as regards the grocery trade, the strike is already causing considerable trouble and annoyance. Most of the goods -which are brought to Palmerston, whether from Auckland or tho South Island, are first of all sent to Wellington and thert transhipped to smaller boats for Foxton, thence by rail to Palmerston. Tho saving of freight bv sea is about half the cost of railage. The result now is that there is practically no sugar and no flour in town. . It was further stated that tile southern markets are depended on for potatoes, and supplies of these are now running very short. It is also probable' there will bo a rise in tho price of kerosene, as supplies of this commodity are .now being brought by rail from the north, tho cost of doing this being mors than tho cost by sea. As regards tho drapers, inquiries made revealed that many have goods on board ilie steamers at present laid up in Wellington. Ono firm has a large quantity of carpets on board tho Rimutaka, and these cannot bo unloaded. In another case, out of 112 cases on board tho Ilfmutaka, only 33 have been landed, and great inconvenience is being felt at tho non-arrival of goods, part of which are boots and part show stock. The same firm have 37 cases on tho Corinthic. The coal supplies are also very short locally, and will likely affect some of the flaxmillers, who will have to close down shortly.