SUPPLIES IN THE SOUTH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 1 November 1913, Page 5

SUPPLIES IN THE SOUTH.

COAL FAMINE FEARED. CARTERS HAVE NO WORK.

CHRIST-CHURCH, Last Night. It is stated that the local coal merchants intend raising the price of coal to-morrow. A rise of six shillings per ton is expected from coal merchants generally, in view of the comparative lewdness of stocks. It is estimated that there is on hand in Christclm rck at present only sufficient coal for all purposes to last-a fortnight. The merchants have had to protect themselves by limiting the quantity that they will supply, and orders for ones ton have had to be cut dawn to a. quarter of a ton. Orders have been pouring in "hand over fist' ? during yesterday and to-day, and most of the coal merchants have on their books, orders that -jvill keep them fairly busy delivering for several days. This is, of course, unusual, As at this time df the year the dema.nd for coal is not very great outside of the regular requirements for manufacturing purposes. Two hundred tons of State coal were on the Kamo when she left for Dunedin yesterday, and 100 tons of this was wanted for the Sunnyside Mental Hospital. Owing, however, to the refusal of the watersiders t-o unload the coal, only one truck was sent to the Mental Hospital, and the remainder will require to be made up, if possible, from stocks available. It is understood that the retailers are limiting the amoimt of sugar sold to parcels of Gibs.

One of the largest cariving concerns in the city, (Messrs J. M. Heywood and Coy.) has found it necessary to* give general notice to the drivers employed by the firm that their services may be dispensed with. The award provides that a week's notice shall b© given, but the notice issued is' only in general terms, and intended to make,the firm's employees acquainted with the position of their services being temporarily dispensed with. No men have been knocked off yet, but as there is comparatively little being done in the carting of cargo, the men will have to be dismissed.

Another business which is bound, to be affected by the strike is the confectionery manufacturing trade. Mr R. E. MeDougale, of Aulsebrooke and Co., informed a reporter that hands are being shortened in some departments, and that to-morrow the services of about twenty employees, including men and girls, would be temporarily dispensed with. About three parts of the firm's trade is with other parts of the Dominion, and tinless the goods can be shipped, there is no use in producing them, as they are of a perishable character. At present goods intended for Wellington are banked up, and cannot be got away. In addition, the firm lias only

about two weeks' supply of sugar on hand, and cannot possibly continue manufacturing. After that, the supply will be exhausted, unless fresh supplies are available.