AN ONION STRIKE IN MELBOURNE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3151, 1 August 1917, Page 4

AN ONION STRIKE IN MELBOURNE

AVHARP WORKERS' PROTEST AGAINST HIGHTEICBS.

Melbourne, July 31. In conformity with their resolution to refuse to handle foodstuffs for export unless for war purposes until the pncea of (roods for home consumption are lowered to the pre-war standard, the wharl labourers Tefused to load a cargo of onions for New Zealand .-Press Assn.

[The llolbonrno "Age," which ha 3 been giving considerable prominence to the question of high food prices and profiteorinK generally, said last week, on the subject of onions: At the present time wholesale distributors are demanding £9 per ton, and in some instances a higher tare, for prime onions U the corresponding date last year best grade bulbs were quoted at up to Al per ton, whilst lower qualities were obtainable at down to JEI per ton. Ihere may be very good masons for the enhanced prices now ruling, but they aro far from being apparent O^" 6 *™.™ 1 .? 6 - Railway statistics nvUeate that up to tho end of y iast week 253149 hags of™ had been delivered this year at Spencer vear owin? to the shortage of sh ppmt are higher to the extent of .£•> per ton, a position which, to <P ut it mildly, menb the description, "paradoxical! ihe local cannot at nil. he regarded is icHve and vet quotations arcicstre.nely firm "Some traders rontmuo to that speculators have full con. trolot tho position, and that in certain Sances the rtores of merchants, are heavily stocked. 1