How the Strike Affects Wai= rarapa.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVI, Issue 8683, 16 February 1907, Page 5

How the Strike Affects Wai= rarapa.

A Very Serious Condition of

Affairs

Stock Rapidly Deteriorating.

Pastures at a Premium

Farmers Likely to Suffer

Severely,

Other Freezing Companies Blocked with Work.

It is only to be expected that in a pastoral district like Masterton the strike would have a more or less serious effect. Judging by the remarks of local stock agents, the position is very serious indeed.

Mr J. B. ■ Moody, of Dalgety and Co., interviewed this morning, stated

that his firm was affected very considerably. Over a thousand head of stock had been purchased before the strike, which are now being depastured in localities extending as far north as Pahiatua.

Asked how the local fanners would most directly suffer, Mr Moody replied in rospectof "stores" purchased by them. Most of them have to take delivery under contract of their new flocks, and, having anticipated disposing of their "fats," they are now put to the necessity of not only finding feed for thoir new flocks, but of keeping tlio "fats" in prime condition.

"In fact," said Mr Moody, "there is a block all round, and even if the strike terminated immediately the block would continue for some time. The railway traffic—at any time an acute problem—will be very difficult to regulate.''

"•The firm's drovers are now hanging about, with nothing to do, and our buyers are in the same plight. The seriousness of the position as regards Wairarapa cannot be over-estimated.''

'' Have you no alternative; to sending the sheep to Wellington?" he was

asked

"Yes, we may have to fall back on Hawke's Bay freezing companies, or Longburn; but it is very doubtful if they could cope with the work if the strike continues uracil longer.''

"Have you experienced difficulty in securingp asturos?"

Mr Moody replied that green feed — never at any time this season very plentiful—is diminishing at an unprecedented rate, the result being that pastures are at a premium.

"How about the various contracts likely to be affected by the strike? "Well the contracts chiefly concerned will undoubtedly be the "c. i.f. " contracts between the London buyers and the companies, but the contracts with the companies and fanners are in a position which cannot be determined just now, on account of the peculiar question involved as to how the men's uvt, which has been illegal, affects the latter class of contract.''

Mr Moody was emphatic that the position was very grave, and fanners would have to manipulate their flocks very carefully to avert a disastrous

Mr O. C. Cooper, of Abraham and Williams, was equally despondent in Ills views of the situation. His firm have several thousand head of stock awaiting consignment, which lie declared were rapidly deteriorating.

Questioned as to the likelihood of finding an outlet for "fats" in other parts Mr Cooper stated that his firm had tried Lougburn works, which had replied that they were quite unable to assist in the matter, having all they could do to cope with their present work. Hawke's Bay had not been communicated with.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Compauy and Levin and Co. are also affected to a greater or less degree by the strike, principally from the lack of market for "fats." They agree that sheep farmers in particular must suffer under any circumstances, and that if the strike is prolonged it will be a serious matter indeed for nianv of them.