A TRADE BOYCOTT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13975, 9 August 1909, Page 7

A TRADE BOYCOTT.

IN DUNEDIN. The boycott in the local trade is the subject of general conversation among Duncdin coal merchants, coalmine owners and others. A representative of the industry, speaking to an " Otago Daily Times " reporter, stated that tho position that had arisen was only the outcome of the State's action in boycotting the merchants in regard to State coal, and in refusing to sell it to householders except for cash. The question which the coal-mine owners had to face was whether they would copy the tactics of tho State and dispense with the middleman, or whether they would stand by tho Coal Merchants' Association. If they adopted the former course, it would mean that some 70 or 80 citizens of Dunedin who have made a living out of the coal for many years, and who have their.plants and their all invested in it, would be completely ruined. This was what Mr Purdie had encouraged by his action. —(Mr Purdie had taken a. contract for carting out State coal) —and the position wliich he now complained of ho had brought about with his eyes open. There was no boycott by either the Coal Merchants' Association or the Coal-mine Owners' Association. If a member could not adhere to the rules and regulations governing a body of which he was a member, he was in honour bound to retire from membership. He could not remain a. member and deliberately violate its constitution. Mr Purdie stated to a Times reporter that he had been informed by a, member of the Coal Merchants' Association that not only were the coalmine owners not going to supply him with coal, but any merchant found supplying him or his customers on an order from him would be similarly treated bv tho coal-mino owners. If that was 'not a boycott, he certainly did not know what was.