EFFECT OF THE STRIKE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 128, 4 June 1929, Page 9

EFFECT OF THE STRIKE

MELBOURNE SUFFERING

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day. The business man who visits Melbourne and Sydney at present cannot fail to be impressed by the extent to which the timber strike is affecting the commercial world, Mr., B. A. Laidlaw, general manager of the Auckland Farmers ' Trading Company, who returned by the Niagara yesterday from visiting Australia after an interval of three years, informed an interviewer. Mr^ Laidlaw said 'that Melbourne in particular was suffering keenly from the strike. When it was realised, that even in normal times, tEo Victorian Capital had not the rush and bustle of Sydney, little imagination was needed to picture the state of business after a strike of four.; months 'duration, •

"TJnless there is a revival in trade," Mr.Laidlaw commented, "heavier taxation is inevitable;; as none of the Governments seems to have- courage to economise by reducing itt staffs." Mr. Laidlaw believes that busliiess men in New : Zealand may gain, valuable experience and inspiration by making periodical visits to Australia.- Sydney and Melbourne, he said, now have a combined population of. over 2,000,000. They'not only have large manufacturing plants, but they have also. several departmental stores with turnovers in excess of £4,000,000 per annum. "I believe that the few ■weeks necessary for a visit may be made very profitable," he concluded.'