EFFECT UPON INDUSTRIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17458, 30 April 1920, Page 6

EFFECT UPON INDUSTRIES.

POSITION IN AUCKLAND.

DISTRIBUTION D 5 FF! CUITIES. COAL URGENTLY REQUIRED." NEEDS OF THE HOSPITAL. ■ * • ' ' ■ ff- i The railway goods-traffic remains completely suspended. A number of firms who had sent perishable goods' 4 ' to the sheds have had them returned to them. Packing, however, is going on as usual, and preparations-faro being made for .the forwarding of goads as soon as circumstances permits So far, 'the strike has made no appreciable difference to the transport "companies, as there is sufficient shipping in port and unloading of " cargo to keep the carriers fully occupied. One of the city's leading wholesale firms yesterday instituted a motor-service to the Waiksto district, but while relieving the position to some slight extent, this service cannot possibly cope with the amount of business on hand. I One of the most serious phases of the strike is the effect it ■ will have upon many of the industries if supplies of coal are not available within the next few days. The machinery in tha clothing, boot, bi&uit, and jam factories is practically all electrically driven, and any cessation in the output of the city electrical supply will mean the immediate suspension of work in these and other factories. This will result not only in the curtailment of supplies, but that hundreds of workers will be thrown out of employment. . ' , It was stated yesterday that the freezing works and cold storage nlant were in a somewhat better position, the principal Auckland company having sufficient coal on hand to keep its plant working until conditions return to normal. The city's large stores of meat, butter, and other produce in cold storage are therefore not threatened as yet.

The position is less satisfactory with regard to the bakery trade. One of tho leading bakeries burns coke only, and will have to close if supplies axe not forthcoming within the next few days. Other bakeries have* furnaeea which will burn wood," bat even so, it is considered that many of the ovens will be closed up if the position grows worse. The Auckland General Hospital authorities are making every effort to secure sufficient coal to keep th© furnaces going. The building is lit by electricity, and has no auxiliary lighting plant, so that a most serious position will arise if the electric power fails. The wa*de are all steam-heated, the sterilising plant is steam-driven, and the cooking is also I done by steam, the furnaces being kept ; going on coal. The hospital has first call on Auckland's coal supplies, and the Coal Committee will endeavour to keep the institution supplied, but as the greater part of the supply has hitherto been obtained from Tanpiri, stocks are now heavily depleted, and the hospital has on nd just about enough to keep it going server the week-end. " However, should the coal supply fail, th© worst result will, fortunately, be only the serious inconvenience involved in the substitution of wood fuel for coal. Apart from the lighting, th? welfare of the patients will not be threatened. The authorities fully appreciate the necessity for the hospital to ■ have some auxiliary lighting system of its own, and a scheme is in band for the installation of an electric plant, which will in future eliminate any such emergency as the hospital is facing to-day.