FALL IN RETURNS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10925, 14 November 1913, Page 7

FALL IN RETURNS.

WHAT TRADERS SAY. EFFECTS OF STRIKE ON BUSINESS. [Pes Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 13. Various reports are to hand of the affects of the strike on business. The experiences of retail houses' vary. In the drapery trade inquiries made from the heads of a number of firms showed that the shops at the ends of. the •town, particularly the smaller ones doing a cash business, were suffering most. The big firms in the centre of the town, and especially those dealing in. the highest quality goods and doing more or less a booking trade, had not so much to complain of. One manager, whose business may bo said to lie between tho two extremes, thought 10 per cent would cover the fall in the returns. Another firm, doing a big business with the_ labouring classes, said that their loss of trade was much more than this. People who might any day liave no money for food would not buy new clothes. Some of the smaller shops have shortened their staffs pending a revival of trade. Others have taken advantage of the slackness to commence the annual leave given to their employees. There is also reported to be a lull in the retail grocery trade, due largely to the shortage of stocks. Some of the smaller shops and milkmen are still giving credit to striker customers. One has only to go carefully'through-the business streets, however, to se« for himself that there is an air of unusual dullness about most of tho shops. To-morrow will be the third ''pay day" for the waterside workers and there will be no pay. As. the Union Company's wages bill for this class of work alone amounts to an average of £ISOO a week, there will be thait much jess to go into circulation, alhough there will be, of course, a slight diversion of the stream of wages ...to the arbitration workers who have come from the country, and tho citjy also, to do the waterside work. As they are living on board the Mararoa in tho harbouv, and are being kept, they are not yet distributing the money they earn among the shops as the, original watersiders would have done. .With regard to wholesale - business,

especially in the soft Modi i... matters are but little advanced since the striko began. There aro new goods on tho sliips awaiting discharge, and storekeepers, in the ordinary course, would bo clamouring for them for tho Christmas trade. At present tho stores that do not import direct are not in a particular hurry for them. There is an important financial aspect of tho business, however, and that is with regard to tho payment of milk suppliers. Tho co-operative concerns are paving out half the usual price for butter-fat at present until tho butter is on board and the bills of lading can be drawn upon. With pri-vately-owned factories, however, the position is likely to become more acute unless the situation improves with regard to getting tho butter and cheese aw'av on the ships. The banks, it is understood, are doing their utmost to render assistance to producers and exporters in tho present crisis. WHAT HE MEANT. MR FARLAND EXPLAINS. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 13. In regard to the reference made by Mr J. Farland, secretary of the Waterside Workers' Union, to Messrs Reardon and Barr, whom he descrihed as "Traitors to their own class," also that " the men of Petone and elsewhere would mete out such retribution as has never.been done before, Mr Farland explains that he in no sense meant that violence would be used. What he wished to infer was that the men would use their power at tho ballot-box against Mr Reardon if he were again acandidate for Parliamentary honours, as he was at the last general election, and also when the election of the secretary of the General Labourers' Union took place. THE WILLOCHRA'S FRUIT. There was no sign of a boycott at the fruit mart this morning, and the balance of the Willochra's fruit sold readily. All that is now left is a small lot of'apples, but these will keep well, and the merchants are not in a hurry to dispose of them