OUR FOOD SUPPLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8353, 5 September 1890, Page 6

OUR FOOD SUPPLY.

CONFERENCE OF IMPORTERS AND UNIONISTS. SCARCITY OF FLOUR. At the Harbour Board Offices yesterday afternoon there was an important meeting of about sixty grain and provision merchants and retail grocers to consider the question of the tood supply of thecity during the present crisis. Amongst those represented were Messrs. Bycroft and Co., Stone Bros., G. Hulme, A. Heather, G. W. Binney, T. H. Hall and Co., L. D. Nathan and Co., Mennie and Dey, E. Buchanan and Co., W. J. Hurst and Co., H. B. Morton, Sharland and Co. Mr. H. B. Morton* was voted to the chair, and after reading the advertisement convening the meeting said that it was needless to dwell upon the gravity of the pretent crisis. He was quite sure that no one present would complicate matters by any expression of bitterness. The pressing immediate question was our food supply. He would not delay the meeting with generalities, but at once state the result of enquiries he had made in the town during the laet hour. He might say that the town was confronted by the probability of an actual scarcity of bread—the first necessary of civilised life. The bakers had informed him that they would on Saturday next have again to raise the price of bread*. The proprietors of the two largest mills informed him that they had not 50 tons of breadscuffs on hand, and perhaps noc more than half that quantity. They had shut down one mill last night, and were about to close the other in the morning. A notice that they could not execute orders for flour would appear in the morning paper. So serious did they consider the position that they had deemed it their duty to place the facts before the heads of the labour organisation in this town. He (Mr. Morton) had been unable to ascertain that there was more than a few days' supply in the hands of the flour dealers. This was a matter of so much importance that he earnestly begged any of those present to place any further information they might possess as to local stocks at the service of the meeting, so that no alarm as to probable scarcity might be caused if stocks existed of' which he had not been made aware. He had also seen the local manager of the Union Steamship Company, who, whilst expressing the belief that the company would have no difficulty in keeping up the coasting service by means of uon-Uniouist labour, could give no assurance as to the nature or extent of the .supplies they might be able to obtain on account of the blocking of the boate by Unionists all along the coast. Mr. Morton concluded by moving the following resolution :—" That as the stocks of the necessaries of life in the town are being rapidly exhausted through the non-arrival of the usual supplies, this meeting, as representing the importeis and distributors thereof, deem it their duty to make public this fact, and also that the greatly increased cost of bringing any possible further supplies must raise the price to such an extent as to cause needless suffering and inconvenience to the public at large." Mr. F. Hewjn in seconding the motion endorsed the views of Mr. Morton. The proposition was carried unanimously. Mr. L. 1). Nathan proposed, and Mr. R. Rkw seconded, " That a sub-committee from this meeting be appointed to confer forthwith with the local heads of the labour organisations on the question of our food supply." Mr. Nathan" pointed out the deplorable position of affairs resulting from the present strike, and expressed the hope and belief that a conference with the heads of the labour party would avert suffering to innocent and helpless people. He said that the grave aspect of affairs pointed to the necessity for immediate action in the way his resolution indicated.

Mr. Arthur HEATHER also spoke in a similar strain. He feared that the Maritime Council m boycotting the Union Company failed to realise the serious position of affairs, inasmuch as there were no vessels to take the place of the Union boats oa which our food supply depended. Mr. G. \V. Owen said that in supporting the resolution proposed by Mr. Kathan, he must assert that those who were endeavouring to boycott the Union Steam Shipping Company did not appear have any idea of what they were doing. They had an idea th.it if the Union Company were boycotted that other steamers or ship 3 could be had to do the carrying trade, but did they know where these ships were to be found? The Union .Steam Shipping Company had been doing our coastal trade for years, had been doing it well, ami had carried cargo at such low rates that Bailing vessels had been driven off the coast. In fact, lit this time there was-, no coastal lleet tp do the work. The Union Steam Shippim; Company's ships had been really our only means of intercourse between this city and the Southern parts of the colony, and had been carrying our food supplies for year:!. He thought that the Maritime Council had not measured the extent of tlie evil they were doing, or the misery they might inflict on many families by the action they are taking. The motion was then carried.

It was resolved that the following gentlemen should be the committee to confer with the labour authorities :—Messrs. H. H. Morton. J. F. Churton, K. Rew, F. Hewin, and R. Fry, the .Secretary (Mr. F. G. Kwington) being instructed to arrange for the conference as soon as possible. The meeting then dispersed. VIEWS OF THE LABOUR PARTY. All expedition was used in arranging for the meeting, and at 4 p.m. the committee unpointed as above assembled again in the Harbour Board rooms, and met the following representatives of the labour organisations : Messrs. Cronin, president of the Seamen's Union ; Turner, president of the Trades and Labour Council; Boonstra, president of the Coastal Seamen's Union: Kirkup, secretary of the Wharf Carters and Storcinen's Union, and Bust, secretary of the Trades and Labour Council.

Mr. Morton explained the object of the consultation to be to ascertain whether some means could not be devised by which the supply of food could be kept up during the present crisis. The labour party had said that the Union S.S. Company were inimical to their interests, and had therefore placed them in a boycott, thereby stopping the usual channel of supplies. They had not shown any other method by which the necessary food could be obtained for the city. The importers and others concerned in the distribution of food were in the same position us the labour party, both being short of supplies, and they had therefore passed the resolution as above. He had asked all that were present at the meeting that afternoon if the case were overstated, or it the passing of such a resolution would cause needless feelings of uneasiness, and had been assured that it was not. The committee were present to stiite the facts of the case so far as their knowledge went, and to ask the labour party their opinion as to the best means out of the difficulty. The case was simply this, " You have taken away the means of our catering for you in the usual manner, and we want to know if you can cater for yourselves, or if not, how you propose that we should do so under the altered circumstances." Auckland is a large consuming district and a small producer. There was only about 2;">0 tons of breads tuffs on hand, and the weekly consumption was about 200 tons. Mr. Fry remarked that one important question was the difficulty of getting even what supplies were available forwarded, as the carters now refused to deliver them. There were about (JOOO gumdiggors and settlers in the out districts wholly dependent upon supplies from Auckland, and ;eu if there were plenty in the city the action of the Unionists might (if they chose to push their power to that extent) mean the actual starving of these people. Mr. ChUBTON said the importers failed to see why they had been " stuck-up," when they were only endeavouring to carry on operations in their proper sphere of distributors of supplier. Mr. F. R. Bust said that he thought all knew why tliuv had been Btuck-up. The gauntlet had "been thrown down by the steamship owners, who had twice refused to have the matter settled by arbitration. The labour party was well aware that supplies had diminished here and would further diminish. The labour class were preparing arrangements to supply themselves, and the others would have to take similar steps. Mr. Cjiukton asked if it was to be understood that the labour party had agreed to get supplies for Unionists only, and that the importers und merchants were expected to be responsible for the other portion of the population ? Mr. Bust replied that the merchants had proved by the present state of affairs that they were unable to carry on the food tniainess of the city, and the labour party would probably have to take over the conduct of affaire.

Mr. KIRKDP said that they wore not there to (Hhcush the merits of fcho present situation, hut the means to avert scarcity of food. H e would suggest " That the merchants and tho public should bring pressure to bear upon the Union S.S. Co. to secede from the Auhtralasiaii Owners' Association, and things would then go on as before." This was a suggestion for bridging over the local difficulty, and would need to bo confirmed by the Maritime Council. The labour party were fighting for a principle and not for any question of wages or hours. The shipowners had first thrown down the gauntlet, and declared their intention of bursting up the Unions.

Mr. H. 11. Morton said if Hitch a proposition as suggested were made would not the Union y.fci. C 0.,, with a good show of. reaaou,

retort, why should not the Unionists retire from their federation with the Australian labour bodies? Mr. Kikkop said that if his suggestion were acted upon temporarily each party could go on working as previously, leaving the whole question at issue in abeyance, so far as New Zealand was concerned, till it was settled by arbitration in Australia, when both should accept the result of that arbitraMγ. Bust endorsed this proposal, saying that even though the labour bodies were affiliated to Australia, they could fairly ask this, as the shipowners had first " thrown down the gauntlet." Mr. Cronin explained that the only New Zealand body affiliated to Australian organisations was tho Seamen's Union. Mr. Churton held that if the Union S.S. Co. seceded from the Steamship-owners' Association, they would be in the same position as a single Union seceding from the Maritime Council, and would always have to contend against the wholesale opposition brought against free labour. He was of opinion that the merchants or people of Auckland had little or no weight to influence the Union S.S. Company in the direction suggested. Mr. Kirkcp said that the great curse of New Zealand commerce was the monopoly possessed by the Union S.S. Company, which had always endeavoured to swamp any opposiing lines by cutting down rates till they run them off. The merchants and importers were as well aware of this as the working men. The former should invite tonnage owners to put on ships, both steam and sailing, to convey their supplies, and the labour organisations would see that they were manned. Mr. Cjicrton said they had been drifting from the question before the meeting. He wished to know definitely whether the labour organisations meant only to provide for themselves and make the importers responsible for supplies to the outside public. Mr. Turner said that he had been under the impression that a ring had locked up supplies, and were withholding them for higher prices. AH the supplies that might be introduced by the labour party would be made available for all without distinction at little over cost figures. Any other course would be dishonourable. Conciliation was the only means of getting over the present crisis, and the merchants should make .suggestions in that direction. Failing this, the labour organisations must devise means for supplying food. Mr. Morton said he was pained to hear any suggestion of a ring being formed. He certainly believed there was only about a week's supplies in the city. He wished it to Ix 3 understood that this meeting was not one of rival bodies of the merchants and the working classes, but of fellow-men and citizens, who wore both likely to suffer from the anticipated scarcity, and wishful to devise means to prevent it. He thought Mr. Bust was beyond the mark in saying that he could arrange for adequate supplies, as this could not be done easily or at once. He wished all to consider the matter coolly, and wished to hear some suggestion as to any way of meeting the scarcity. Mr. Fry emphasised this remark. Mr. Kibkup considered that so far they were more alarmed than hurt. The carters had only yet been a day out, a state of affairs that occurred at every holiday. To show that the labour party had not boon unmindful of the supplies question he might state that they had already made arrangements by which coal should be supplied, so that the city water should not fail, that the carters would still continue to carry out meat to the public, that in order that no epidemic nrisjht visit the town the nightsoil contracts would not be interfered with, and now they were devising methods by which coal for public consumption should come from the Waikato. The only thing there was a scarcity of was flour, or its equivalent wheat. He would like to see the ship Waitangi sent South for supplies of this, a matter which could be arranged by the merchants, whose influence was greater than that of the working-men. On good authority he had been informed that there were even now 2000 sacks of wheat on the way here, and further supplies would be arranged for. Mr. TtTRNBR said Mr. Kirkup had shown that the labour party had not neglected the food question. There were steamers as well as sailing vessels available for their conveyance. The labour organisations were already in communication with Dunedin and Lyttelton for sending up supplies. He thought the retailers had certainly done harm by raising their prices before they were warranted in so doing. Mr. Bust said he was certain that at least one grocer had withheld his sto;k from public purchase. Mr. KIRKCP said that the floumills had coal, and it would be looked to that they did not run short. He would mow " That the merchants take steps in the direction of getting vessels to bring up supplies." Mr. Morton said that as the merchants had no grievance as to the moans of conveyance, they could not be expected to start opposition to a powerful organisation like the Union Company. However, as they were only delegates of the importers, appointed to devise means for supplying food, and not representatives of any body, lie could not take such a resolution.

Mr. Cronin asserted that there was sufficient tonnage in the ports of Lyttelton, Timaru and Oamaru to bring up, in say three weeks, enougli food to last Auckland for six months.

Mr. EwiNCTOX asked that the difference of opinion expressed by Messrs. Bust and Turner, as to whether the Unionists would only supply their own class with food, might be explained, as if it went forth th-it this was the intention much bitterness of spirit might be caused. Mr. Bust said that charity certainly began at home. If the labour party got a large quantity of supplies they would certainly not withhold them, but they would surely provide for their own people first. Messrs. TURNER and KIRKUF disclaimed any intention in this direction. Any supplies would be distributed at a low cost to all applying for them. The other labour representatives endorsed this view, saying they would not consent to any other arrangement. Sir. Morton asked if it were to be understood before they parted, that the labour party intended to throw upon the merchants the onus of supplying tne outside public, though they (the labour party) debarred them from the means of getting those supplies? All the labour representatives save Mr. Bust, reiterated their intention of doing the best they could for all if they got supplies. In answer to a question by Mr. Fry, it was stated that the labour organisations conkl take no action in the matter without referring to the Maritime Council. The meeting then closed.

The Auckland Frozen Meat Company will be able to carry on as long as the Northern Steamship Company's men are not called out. Coal in hand is but scanty, but the manager expects to keep operations going with firewood as a last resort. The company has a large quantity of preserved meats iii stock, which will be available to supplement the supply of fresh meat.