A SERIOUS OUTLOOK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 3 November 1913, Page 5

A SERIOUS OUTLOOK.

IN POVERTY lUY.

GISBORNE, Last Night. When it was announced that the Westralia was bung up at Auckland on account of the strike, some alarm was expressed that Gisbm*.ne might shortly become quite isolated', but arrangements have been made for a small steamer service in with Napier, and the Monowai is expected to get back 'from Auckland on Wednesday a*s usuaj, j»nd the Wanaka from Timaru, Pictoif'and Napier is also expected during the-y.eek. r l.'he steamer Tuatea, which usually tenders _ coastal boajbs here, is also being kept ready for the 'Napier service in case of emergency. Already there has been an upward tendency in the prices of certain lines. One produce dealer stated that potatoes had gone up £l_ per ton, and there was every possibility of further advances, whilst 'sugar had advanced £2 per toll. There has also been an advance in benzine, flour, and sugar. A pressman was advised that those were really 'the only lines -on which thero was likely to be a shortage, "but the benzine and kerosene stocks would also be run out in two qr three weeks!, witeu shearing operations bcgeneral. • One large firm a few days ago held a large stock of sugar, but this has been rapidly depleted by storekeepers, and it is estimated that there is only ten days or a fortnight's supply available. "It is quite certain now tlwre will be no New Zealand wool in the London January sales," announced the manager of -one commercial fimi, 'in the event of Che struggle continuing. 1 ' He went on to point out that theio J was a possibility of some congestion in connection with the wool clip. The , farmers, of course, had practically no j accommodation in their wool sheus, and the. tieectj is forwarded to town as the shearing proceeds. Under normal the local ■stores would have' been cleared out by the middle of the mouth with shipments for the Jamiary sales. I'ho non-arrival of the Home steamers would consequently soon result in tile filling up of t-lic local wool stores, and 'doubtless supplemental y arrangements would have to be made to store the clip. As to the freezing industry, he did not anticipate any difficulty in this respect, as the local works possess largo storage capacity: There is some, doubt about the Op aw a. coming here to load, as she will probably require blinkers.