HOW THE PUBLIC ARE PENALISED.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1897, 4 November 1913, Page 9

HOW THE PUBLIC ARE PENALISED.

FOUNDRY SHUTS. OVER 150 MEN PAID OFF. (By Tjlesraph.—Pres3 Association.) Dunsdin, November 3. Messrs. Reid and Gray have been compelled to shut down until Wednesday, throwing over 150 men out of work.. Unless a settlement is affected by the middle of the week the number of hands out of work locally will assumo alarming proportions. Fishermen in tho lower harbour havo offered to do one days' fishing per week for tho benefit of tho men on strike. Tlio proposition first came from Italian fishermen, and other fishermen signified their willingness to fall into lino. A prominent member of the Otago Employers' Association, when asked this morning what action they woro taking, replied: "Wo do not want to aggravate the men here any more than necessary. Wo are simply, standing by waiting instructions from headquarters in Wellington, but wo are prepared for any instructions that may come along." Tho retail price of Bugar has again risen. It is. being sold at 3d. a pound, as from to-day. Very fow wholesale firms now havo any sugar in stock, but most of tho grocors havo enough to last them this week. There are some grocers who havo nono in stock. Supplies of syrup and trcacle are also very short, and, if tho strike lasts over this week, all these firms will he out of theso commodities. Canned moats will also bo short. Fruit importers aro out of such imported fruits as oranges and bananas, and thoy will have no mors apples left in a few days. Ths present supplies in shops cannot last much longer. Next week they expect to havo strawberries coming forward from Alexandra. Vegetables are not so plentiful and the wholesals price is said to have risen fully 50 par cent. From inquiry to-day made it would appear that grocers and bakers aro well supplied with flour,' and tlie mills aro turning out more every day.