HOKITIKA NOTES.

Grey River Argus, 8 June 1922, Page 8

HOKITIKA NOTES.

(Our Own Correspondent.) As a result of the timber slump, there is at present a considerable number of unemployed about town. Let us hope the authorities will speed up the erection uf the new wing a! the Westland Hospital and absorb some of the “surplus” labour. Mr Roy Baigent left by Tuesday morning’s express, en route for Australia, to visit his mother, who is seriously ill. A rather amusing discussion took place between some of the local mill hands as to how they were going to manage getting a living when all the mills close down. One chap declared that he would manage with two meals per day and replace the third with sleep, while mother argued: “To with that kind of economising!” He and his childcru would have three meals pur day, even if he had to steal them! Messrs Davidson Bros’. Foundry in Bealcy .Street has been fitted with a H> h.p. electric motor. The plant in the past, has been driven by a gas engine. It is said that there is little or no difference to the firm in the cost of running its past and present powers. The Ruatapu Sawmill put off over 50 men the other day. One wonders what is the move! As a result of the mills closing down in this district and little, or no other, work offering, quite a largo number of erstwhile limber workers have gone to the North Island to seek fresh fields and pastures new. The mill owners cannot expect them to hang on here if the mills are to be kept idle till orders grow at tho present prices of timber.