WEST COAST HARD HIT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1916, 26 November 1913, Page 8

WEST COAST HARD HIT.

FOOD AT FAMINE PRICES.

The effects of tho strike- aro beilur severely felt, throughout the West Coast, according to the "I'rcssV correspondent. In the Bulier iiistrict tho people aro to-day paying famine prices, ami even then the supply is extremely limited. Sugar cannot bo obtained at all; tiiat, indeed, is a condition common to the whole of the West CoastWillie flour is in very short supply, 'J he Post Office has been largely used as a means ol getting supplies into Vt estport, parcels-of Hour and su»ar having been sent from as far distant"as Christcmireh. One woman, more enterprising than the rest, has arranged to obtain her breau per post from Canterliury. Bread is being sold at famine prices 111 Westport, whilst practically alt the country bakeries have closed down. The meat supply has practically given out. In Greymouth the striko is being severely felt by local dair.vi'j<r companies, who are unable to'ship thdir surplus products away. There is io cold storage there, and unless arranfilnents can be made for shipment slirSJ.v, a large quantity of butter will fc valueless, a tact which would entail heavy loss 011 the factories as well as on the farmers.

It is estimated that there aro 3050 strikers on the West Coast, to which number can be added another 500 representing those eompulsorily out of employment. Tho, figures arc':— Bulier miners ] (jgrj Grey miners l'2oo West-port wharf labourers'.'.', '"100 Greymouth watersiders 150 Total , 3,050 Jne people seem reconciled to the strike lasting till after Christmas, and some will bo even surprised if the mines reopen then Tho conduct of tho strikers locally has been exemplary but, of course, 110 effort has been made to introduce i'reo labour.