HOKITIKA NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 7 April 1921, Page 5

HOKITIKA NOTES.

(Our Own (.’orrespondeiif.) Everybody is talking about the great slump that is coming, but. there is no slump iu prices about Hokitika. A suit of clotlies still costs £l3, ami a P<mnd of butter is 2/9. In fact some things are getting dealer, and it is a wonder how a man wiih a family can |li\e. 'lhe slump talk is sometimes a. gag io i'riglilen the workers, but the workers need not be afraid of slumps, as they have nothing to lose, and never will have much as long as they are wage slaves. lhe Wakaili arrived on Saturday evening last from Okuru with a cargo 10l wool. ami later, sailed for for Bruce Bay. An attempt will be made to pick up a Jaft of seven hundred sleepers at lhe Saltwater Lagoon on her return D’ip, and tow it 1" Hokitika. Mr J. Munro has resigned his position as engineer of the Wakaiti, ami I<4l by yesterday morning’s express l"r Auckland! Jimmy carries with him thi' best wishes of his many friends in this district. From private advice received, it seems Oregon pine is selling at 17/- per I.ooft in Sydney. T’his is about, half the price that is being asked for New j Zealand red pine. The whole of the mills in the clistriel started .sawing last Monday, but it is feared that a good many of them will not run long, especially those cutting white pine, for which there are no orders coming to hand. The tightness of money is believed to be the cause of, lhe white pine slump in .Australia. The local millers are of the opinion that the outlook is anything .but bright for the sawmilling industry.