SHORTAGES OF GOODS

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24749, 14 December 1945, Page 7

SHORTAGES OF GOODS

Effects Of Strikes In Australia DEARTH OF MEAT IN MELBOURNE (Special Correspondent N.Z.PA.) (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 13. TJie strikes have not affected Christmas buying in Sydney and Melbourne —city stores report their best Christmas since 193$—but they are affecting the supply of a number of goods, including foodstuffs, and will have greater effects the longer they continue.

Sydney people have not yet gone short of vital foodstuffs,. but in Melbourne there is a dearth of all classes of meat, as train cuts have made it impossible to transport stock from Queensland and New South Wales, and have limited the carriage of stock from Victorian country centres. Poultry is in very short supply in Melbourne, and hams are almost unprocurable. In both cities, supplies of canned meats are running short. Stocks of soft drinks are almost exhausted, and most confectionery lines will be sold out this week. White sugar is scarce in Victoria, and practically unobtainable in New South Wales. There is, however, plenty of crude (brown)- sugar available. Tobacco supplies are already short in Sydney, bixt Melbourne has sufficient to continue the 'present ration.

The biggest amount of Christmas buying is being done in clothing stores, and here in most cases supplies have not been affected by the strikes. Melbourne and Sydney are well supplied

MINERS LIKELY TO RESUME STRIKE SETTLEMENT THOUGHT CERTAIN (Rec. 1.0 a.m.) s SYDNEY, Dec. 13. A resumption of work by the miners in Australia on Monday was stated authoritatively to-night to be absolutely , certain, according to present indications. Official non-miner opinion is so optimistic that a start is to be , made at once with the preparation of the fields for normal work. The Ironworkers’ ■ Union issued the following statement to-night: . “The State council of the union . has authorised its re-registration with the Industrial Commission if circumstances arose making' reregistration ‘the major issue.’” This - decision was unanimous. Senator W. P. Ashley will visit : Newcastle to-morrow to hold a conference of the unions concerned, with a view to reaching a permanent settlement of their dispute.

with toys, but all business is on a cash and carry basis, because of the lack of transport. Cuts in the railway services are already very severe, but the Australian Railways Union has suggested a stoppage of all country train services during the Christmas and New Year periods to avoid overcrowding and to save coal. '

The Director of Emergency Road Transport (Mr C. N. Neale) has suspended the sale of motor tyres indefinitely, because the power restrictions have stopped tyre production. This freezing of tyres and the stopping of retreading will force many motorists off the road.

Obeying a Government order made on Tuesday for the evacuation .to their homes of all patients who could safely be moved, Sydney hospitals-have discharged more. than 500 patients,' and have refused admission to hundreds of new patients, because their condition is not considered acute or urgent. Hospitals are attempting to obtain generators to safeguard against a power failure. Army steam kitchens will be provided for-emergency cooking, but generators are needed to keep refrigeration going. Serums such as diphtheria toxin and insulin would be'lost if insulation failed. '