PARALYSIS OF TRADE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11581, 12 May 1903, Page 5

PARALYSIS OF TRADE.

FACTORIES CLOSING DOWN

A SERIOUS OUTLOOK,

(Received May 12th, 1.9 a.m. ) MELBOURNE, May 11

A meeting of the soft goods trade decided that they would be compelled to close the factories sooner or later, owing to their inability to forward orders.

The timber mills' supplies are cut off, and Sharp and Sons, and James Moore have been compelled to close down, 230 hands feeing thrown idle.

Trade generally is iv a state of stagnation. Numbers of firms have notified their hands that their services will probably not be required next week. There is a great demand for condensed milk and tinned meats, and fish prices show a strong advance. Large shipments of wheat arriving dispel the fear of a serious rise in breadstuffs.