HOW A STRIKE WOULD AFFECT CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14810, 30 October 1913, Page 8

HOW A STRIKE WOULD AFFECT CANTERBURY.

Enquiries were made in Christchurch yesterday as to what the position would be in the event of a strike occurring locally, touching the supplies of coal, sugar, and other commodities. A well-known coal merchant stated that while local stocks of coal were not too well established, he did not think there would be any serious pinch in th© event of a strike. The railways and the Christchurch Gas Company and other big consumers have maintained heavy stocks, and are in a fairly good position to withstand a siege. The local freezing companies which u&e principally New Zealand coals, will not bo starting operations for some weeks yet. and are therefore not perturbed at the prospect ot a strike. Regular shipments of Newcastle coal havo been arriving all the winter, and are still coming to hand. The coastal coal trade has not been very brisk this winter, and the Union Company has had a number of its colliers laid up. Tho approach of summer and warih- weather is regarded as a favourable factor, as the demand for coal for household purposes is bound to decrease.

A prominent merchant discussed the situation, and while he hoped that, for all parties concerned, the strike would not eventuate locally, he stated that th*» merchants' position was not a serious one. There was no doubt that stocks of sugar, particularly, were not sufficient in any centres in New Zea> land. In Canterbury not more than a three weeks' supply was held, and there had been no inducement to merchants to carry big stocks. If the strike were confined to Wellington and Auckland, supplies ot sugar could bt drawn from Sydney. In the event of a protracted strike inconvenience war> bound to be felt in respect of several lines of goods, notably canned salmon and other fish and dried and canned fruits, and Christmas and seasonable provisions. The new season's Christmas dried fruits were on the water, and definite advice had been received that the first shipments would reach Lyttelton about the end of November. In any case the stocks of last season's fruits in every centre were probably quit© ample to carry on over the next few weeks. In regard to general goods not much inconvenience was likely to be felt in the event of a strike. Stocks of tea, coffee, cocoa, pickles, and other commodities, including Bour and oatmeal, were quite sufficient to last for at least three months.