FAMINE AT WESTPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15480, 11 December 1913, Page 8

FAMINE AT WESTPORT.

"SPECTRE OF STARVATION."

FOOD SENT THROUGH POST. [BY TEUGRVI'II.— CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Wednesday.

The deplorable state of affairs at Westport as a result of the strike is described by a correspondent of the Wellington Evening Post. He says: "Not only is the- industrial life of the community absolutely stagnant, but the spectre of starvation hangs ominously over the district, in which there aro over 12,000 inhabitants. The supplies received by the Defender have already given out, and the people are. in as-dire a plight as over. Flour is selling at famine prices, and hard to, obtain at that; sugar is- an unknown quantity; bread is actually being posted from Christchurch and Greymouth, as. indeed, • are such articles as small sides of bacon, hams, meat, etc. Never before has the post office dealt with such enormous business. So great has become the volume of traffic, a large percentage of which represents foodstuffs in transit, that mail contractors have been put to their wits' end to deal with the additional matter. Extra coaches and motor-waggons have been put on to cope- with tlio extraordinary 'situation.

"At Westport," the correspondent goes on to say, "tho main diet is fish; in the mining centres eels 1 only. Tho butchers' shops open intermittently when supplies conioto hand. The most alarming feature is that shelf goods, such as tinned meats, etc., are beginning to give out. Chaff and.oats cannot be obtained for lovo nor money, whilst local supplies of potatoes aro totally incapable of meeting the demands. Many people who keep poultry are lulling them off, owing to inability to secure the necessary feed. Altogether Westport presents a deplorable spectacle Trade is ruined and the people (and the workers are tho great majority in Buller) aro on the verge of starvation. Never before has the iniquity of the general Strike been so clearly illustrated, or its painfullness brought home so keenly to the striker himself."

In reply to their request that the Union Steam Ship Company should run a carra steamer from Dm.edin via way ports to Westport, the Westport Chamber of Commerce has been advised that if a reasonable quantity of cargo is offering the company is willing to load a stranger on the east coast for Westport, provided further, that a return cargo of coal for Weilington is guaranteed, the manager to be satisfied that the coal freight will be paid if the Westport people fail to ship a Lad ° coal. ,', 1,, view of the unsettled state of affairs, the letter adds, "we also require « guarantee that you will find labour to our manager's satisfaction for general cargo and coal, and arrange with the authorities for suitable protection to the ship and those employed on her," The Chamber of Commerce met to-day and passed a resolution to again ask the company to send' a steamer to West port guaranteeing a minimum freight 0 f 600 tons, but declining to guarantee a return cargo. It was also decided to ask the Mayor to call a public meeting to consider the matter of opening the port and the formation of an arbitration union at the waterside. The feeling of irritation over the strike is becoming very marked in town, and also in the coalmining district's: !It is evident Hint some very docisive efforts to open the port will shortly lie made. :

_ Seven plugs of gelignite, with cap and fuse attached, were discovered this morning in the- Railway Department's crane on the merchandise wharf, and the matter .was placed in the hands of the police for inquiry.