THE LOCAL POSITION

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 96, 23 April 1917, Page 8

THE LOCAL POSITION

WOOD AS FUEL

INDUSTRIES AFFECTED

In Wellington the position is very little altered to-day from that obtaining on .Saturday, . except that people have had their first taste of restricted Sunday car service, and this morning many commenced a measure of daylight saving. Householders and others who found themselves when the strike came with empty coal bins have exhausted themselves, arid have had considerable wear out of their telephone", endeavouring to find some lone coaldealer whose yard has not been cleared out. Generally their time has been wasted. Trades,;men and manufacturers have also realised the seriousness of their position, if it was not apparent to them before. Their customers have been acquainted with the situation and'know now that 'the coal strike may affect them in other ways than depriving them of fires and tramcars. For instance, ironmasters may have to go slow with orders, conserving their furnace, fuel for essential work.:. Bakers and pastrycooks use coal to a certain.-extent and some of them are becoming anxious. In bread-baking, however, coal is not in such favour as wood and coke; lit is-said;.not to-give,: such, an, even heat,. and provided good' supplies of wood are obtainable the position will be tolerable. Already orders for wood are pouring in from all, sides. Just to instance how much fuel ;• enters into bur daily, life, thousands of business men and' women take their midday meals in the city. With a, further restriction! of Jhe car service their numbers will be greatly increased; Coal. is necessary to cook those meals, and large quantities of coal also. Then, again, all bakers* small goods come out of the oven. Many a housewife, has decided that, in view of the-shortage of coal, she will not cook, her own cakes. She will buy from the pastrycook, but if the pastrycook is also a restaurateur or a baker, he will have to conserve his coal for the more essential, work.

Many -people have become anxious as to the possibility of the entire stoppage of public services, lighting, heating, and trams, and there has been an overhauling of old bicycles, and a buying of oil lamps and primus stoves.