CAUTION IN DUNEDIN

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 106, 31 October 1913, Page 4

CAUTION IN DUNEDIN

MEN DESIRE A BALLOT . > (BT TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN, 30th October. Late this afternoon Dunedin was drawn into active participation in the waterside workers' strike, a> telegram being received from the Federation of Labour calling on the Dunedin waterside workers to cease work. A mass meeting of the union, however, is called for today to discuss the position, and a ballot is to ( be taken first. It would not be surprising if the local union decided to put away from the Federation' , and register under the Arbitration Act. On the other, hand, if the ballot decides in favour of the men agreeing to come out, it is. probable .that a new union will be formed by a majority under the Arbitration Act. Some of the workers made no secret of the fact that they would prefer, and were fully prepared, to break away from the Federation and a new uniou under the Arbitration Act. At a ballot a few weeks ago the union decided to remain 1 in the Federation by 3 votes, the voting being 93 to 90. SOME OF' THE EFFECTS. Enquiries amongst local merchants show that they are carrying small stocks of sugar. Merchants do not usually stock up heavy lots of sugar, relying on a regular shipment coming from Auckland as required. The hold up of the shipping service "has thus quickly brought on a shortage. Advice was received to-day that the Victoria, which left Auckland on Thursday, and is due here on Sunday, is not bringing any cargo for Dunedin, and as a consequence of the laying up of the Westralia in Auckland no supplies of sugar can come forward in this boat. The scarcity of sugar is not likely to seriously affect the supply for household consumption, but the large confectionery and jam-making establishments must shortly feel the pinch. If supplies continue to be cut off the big foundries in Dunedin are going to suffer. As a result of inability to get their manufactures through to the North Island other manufacturing concerns are also having their outlet for wares cut off. Messrs. Shacklock and Go. will probably have to knock off 100 men to-morrow night, and Messrs. Methven and Co. about 30. Some firms, however, will be able to keep on. full staffs, completing orders and storing it as finished. 'As good stocks of household coal are stored in merchants' yards, e.tc, there- is no fear of any shortage for this coal for several weeks. Steam coal, however, is not too plentiful. The railways have got an unusually large quantity stacked in the yards. The gas works are holding a big quantity.