The Strike.

Te Puke Times, Volume II, Issue II, 4 November 1913, Page 3

The Strike.

LOCAL INDUSTRIES AFFECTED. : STOCI(S I dFS J OtJRAND | SUGAR PRACTICALLY E& u;r . HAUSTED, . ..,j " ,;: '- : ; RISE'IN"PJRICES: '. '"The' 'dire'effects"of' the .strike now prevailing throughout New Zeajandi ai;e ( .already .being felt locally, and iftlie,- 'present, .conditions continue residents must inevitably pass' through a period of the'utmost gravity; f '■ ■ The most serious happening (hat could ; arise would be the 'closing'down'"of the, local dairy factory. This would mean that the industry would be spoilt for the season, and , that scores of dairy farmers'would 1 be 'seriously prippled. if, not ruined. , The effect"' 1 uDon'theV district ; 'can scarcely be' realised. ; The Association; '/finding' j it' not' possible to ship,'' Its l gutter. away,' has'forwarded'one lot, of eight tons', to .Rotorua by waggon, to.be railed to Auckland. Here it will be stored until it can be shipped. It is very' probable, however, that all storage accbmmodaion will be speedily-., taken, up r and as,the Association can only hold about a week's output at the factory, the seriousness of the situation and the anxiety of farmers can be understood. j As regards tne flaxmills, Messrs Mends and Co. have already shut down, whilst the other millowners will probably do likewise in a' very short time. This action will be taken,, not because they cannot,continue.rup.ning, ior we understand they have fair stocks of coal on hand, but because of ■the mf $f iiieingy W, hold large'stocks of inflammable, uninsurable fibre, The closing of th&f'mills Cwiiti.meati numbers of men will be thrown ouj:-.of«employment, .many with wiyes /, and. famjlies dependent upon.them.>.. ■~••' j. The,' inability, of storekeepers to replenish their stocks and the absolute uncertainty ,of matters being shortly ; remedied, led local .^residents, to rush the stores during the past few days in order to 'lay in • necessaries in the event of the trouble being prolonged and provisions being quite unobtainable later. The consequence is ■that;the, flour is practically exhausted,' whilst sugar and .potatoes are both scarce. I In an interview with Mr Findlay,; of-Messrs Wallace & Co., as to how stocks of provisions stand, he showed us a communication ■from Auckland as follows: "All produce at high rates and unprocurable, s Sugar none." ,Mr Findlav,wired, to Auckland as to the possibilityof getting flour through .ana 1 received a reply, that it, would be, sent, via, Rotorua as, soon as possible, but,' as, he .pointed out, this, was. very indefinite. Con-i ti.riuing,' Mr* Findlay 'said that sugar and flour was being sold only ; ' iri 61b'packets. Potatoes are scarce ; rolled oats and oatmeal low' in stock,; while rice; sa&O, etc.,' are in fairly good demand' Ordinary tinned and shelf goods are well stocked. As in all other places just now, said Mr Findlay, .cash with order will re| ceive the best attention. Prices have advanced. j

Messrs King and Co. report about a fortnight's supply of flour, on hand for the bakery, but none for retailing. .' Potatoes are " off," sugar very scarce; benzine; andkerosene practically exj hausted. They are in receipt.pf ;t wire from Auckland that steamei' is taking no cargo, goods are therefore being consigned vid Rotorua, thence by boot the.laketo.Okere, at which placd delivery will be taken, and they will be conveyed by wagons to Te Puke. . 1