The Effects of Strikes.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2530, 29 September 1890, Page 2

The Effects of Strikes.

It would be a hard ta.sk (says an exchange) for an expert statistician to sum up the daily loss m these colonies directly and indirectly caused by the uncertainties and limitations put upon trade, commerce, | and industries by the present labour disputes. As an example of these may be taken the Broken Hill mines. In these there are fifteen mil lions sterling invested ut the iicceut prices of shares—at least tihuy i-epreKun^ thnt amount —find on th;it, agg'reji.'toe dividends amounting to a quarter of ji million a month havo for .souk! time been paid. Borne of the companies, may continue to payjlivid'jnds out of iiilver m hsind or* m transit, bub (ill must soon cease to give any return oil the million* invested"; if the shipping difliculty continues. This takes no account of the wages losa to the thousands of men employed at the. mines or hewing ! timber m New Zealand, Tasmania, and Oregon, or coal \t .Newe-iRtL^ Westport, and Swansea for use m the mines or m the KiuelterK. There were 9000 men employed nt Broken Hill alone. In fact: the'rts can scarcely bo a definite end to the loss that is taking place m connection with this industry. The railway to connect with the district, depending entirely upon the carriage of timber, coal, coke, etc., and the return freight of ore has been entirely closed and the men discharged or dratted oil'to other Work.