AT THE TOWN HALL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1356, 6 February 1912, Page 5

AT THE TOWN HALL.

THE FINAL NEGOTIATIONS. PRIME MINISTER PRESENT. At 11 a.m. yesterday the City Council had arranged to meet, and at 10.15 Sir Joseph Word had arrived at the Town Hall. Later it appeared that ho was to act us intermediary. Ho spoke to the council for n time, and he went to sec the Strike Committee for a time, and then the crowd of several hundred peoplo outside the newly-discovered Trades Hull saw a number of smiling faces looking out of tho just then oponed windows. Sir Joseph Ward had taken along the proposals of the City Council, and it was (mite evident (hat these had been approved. While tho faces at tho window wore- smiling, Sir Joseph Ward was climbing down tho dingy, stopp stairs. Somebody from the window said: "Now then, boys," but tho boys only cheered quietly. Kir Joseph Ward wont along to the Town Hall without any Inorc commotion Hum a motor-car must cause amongst n crowd, and thcro submitted the Strike Committee's say-so to tho City Council. Soon afterwards the story went ronnd that the business had been settled, and Sir Joseph Ward lbd the City Councillors to the front stops of tho Town Hall, there to toll the nswmbled crowd, of perhaps 2000 people, that it was all over, Sir Joseph Ward Paid !><> was Tory proud lo bo able to tell the pooplo that the unfortunate strike that had existed for some days had Iteen settled satisfactorily to both parties. (Cheers.) The terms and conditions of settlement which had boon arrived at, would bo announced in tho ordinary course by the people responsible. Ho. was very proud to be able to say that as a. result of reason on both sides, and without loss ■ of dignity or honour, or prestige to either side, "there had boon a .settlement of one of tho mast difficult troubles that had arisen in tho city °f Wellington for many yours. Ho could congratulate both parties. The ropreeontativos of tho union had done their duty, and v tho result of (heir efforts, which they would place l>efore the union in tho afloMioon. would bn declared Falicfnctory. He believed the meeting would only bo n. formal one. Tho City Council, and the representatives of thn Strike Committee had all been unanimous in affirming the terms of the agreement, po that nil friction previously existing ought now to bo forgotten. (Hoar, hoar.) lie felt confident that the corporation of the city of Wollinglon would allow nothing that had occurred to prejudice tho future of (lie men who had been out on strike for (lie principle, for which Ilioy had boon il^'htinp. So soon as tho speech hnd stopped *nnicono called for cheers for Sir Joseph Ward and tho cheers were given heartily (MWHSh. Tljflti njwthor uinii with n Intider voice called for ehoew for "OrgialKd Labour,"

and the cheers cttinft in answer to the cull. Sit* Joseph Ward was cheered again as he drove away in his motorcar through tho assembled, crowd.