THE SYDNEY WATERSIDE STRIKE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 15 April 1908, Page 1

THE SYDNEY WATERSIDE STRIKE.

THE FOOD SUPPLY THREATENED. A SERIOUS OUTLOOK. Tho "Daily Telegraph" of tho 30th ult., commenting on the Sydney watersido workers' striko and its probable results, says: — ■ Tho dislocation of trado caused through the stoppage of the coastal shipping industry has been reflected rather seriously in the produce industry during the last few days. At first no tightness was felt in the market, owing to tho abundance of supplies on hand immediately prior to the strike, but since the trouble has exteuded over so many days, supplies are beginning to fall short of the demand. The inter-State trade, so far aa the export of but'.er from New South Wales is concerned, has been orought to a standstill, This is regarded as most unfortunate by local shippers, as the demand at present is exceptionally keen. Up to the present time traders have lkeen enabled to get delivery of sufflaient goods for immediate local consumption, and consequently the effects of the strike have not been felt in the metropolitan market to such an extent as to seriously dislocate city and suburban trade. It is quite evident that thi9 comparatively satisfactory position cannot last very much longer, and should the strike continue for another week Sussex-street agents state that from present indications a very different state of affairs may be expected in the immediate future. Tho trouble is that many thousands of pounds are loßt to the State every -week through the inability of the shippers to secure supplies for interstate markets. There is not anything like a sufficiency on hand to meet ft moiety of the orders coming through, and under the most favourable circumstances a complete resumption of trade will be out of the question for some time. Victoria is in need of butter, but local merchants cannot meet the demand. The same applies to Adelaide and- the West Australian ports. The position is all the more exasperating to local business men when the fact is taken into consideration that New South Wales is just now in an exceptionally flourishing state, and under ordinary circumstances could produce sufficient to meet the various wants of die inter-colonial trade. The irony of fate is doubly emphasised becauso Victoria canuot meet the demand of tho sister States. This is due to the extremely dry weal her experienced in tho western and eastern portions of that State. Meteorological handicaps have reduced the output to a minimum, and it is' more than Victoria can comfortably do to keep ahead of her own market requirements. Just now Melbourne is anxious to buy exceptionally large quantities of first-grade butter, but, as many of the chief factories in NewSouth Wales are tied up, so far as supplying the markets is concerned, the loss to local traders is exceedingly heavy. Last week some of the Sus-sex-street houses 'forwarded a few parcels, and when the northern butter arrives some relief will bo afforded the trade. The North Coast Steam Navigation Company is doing all in its powor to relievo the tension, but there does not socm much likelihood that trade will be resumed on the old basis until tho strike, is over. Wherever it can be possibly managed factories are sending via Brisbane. Alstonville and ono or two others havo adopted this courso with satisfactory results, and the demands of the storekeepers for forage for the Tweed and Richmond have now been diverted to Brisbane. But Brisbane cannot absorb the butter trado of Northern Now South Wales. The factories have an enormous production, while the sale in the north is very limited. Merchants entertain the hope that Langley Bros', boats trading to the Tweed will pick up butter from Byron Bay, and thus ease the market. The resumption of work by the carriers has been the means of freeine considerable quantities of cheese. Immediately prior to this the scarcity was beginning to bo felt, nnd there wero constant inquiries for supplies. Tho sudden liberation of accumulated stocks from the wharves and holds of the coastal vessels has done much to steady tho market in the way _of mooting current demands. The improvement is temporary, and cannot last, under exicting labour troubles. It was stated on Saturday that if tho strike continued for another weeft matters will reach a very critical stage by Friday or Saturday. Already tho small man is asking for extended credit, and the barricade which obstructs trade with tho metropolis will mean the closing down .if a large amount of business and a consequent slackness in tho labour market. Many of the wharves are now piled high with valuable outward cargo, and «n long n3 it remains tied up the country must suffer. It was stated in Sydney on Satur dav that an agitation was on font it ■ some parts of the State, ospeeiallj 1 those adjacent to the railways, to ap proach the Railway Commissioner: ' with a view to a reduction in freights It is thought by this means the s'traii ;ould bo eased to a small extent. i