WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 28 April 1917, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

INDUSTRIAL PEACE

THE GOAL STRIKE OFF

WELLINGTON, April 25. The unofficial announcement of the settlement of the coal strike has been received with very general satisfaction throughout the community. It is unofficial at the time of writing because there are certain formalities to be observed on both sides before the terms can be disclosed, but as most of the miners resumed work this morning there seems little ground for further anxiety. At a meeting cf the Labour candidates for scats in the City Council held last night, Mr. H. E. Holland read a telegram frern tlio West Coast stating that the rettlemeut provided for the e:;em»n’ . of essential workers in the coal and old mining industries frern military services, the abandonment of the “go slow” policy and for such cons! : ration as could be shown to the men who had been arrested on account of their participation in The policy. Ministers are not prepared to say at the moment whether or not this message correctly represents the conditions of the settlement, but proßably it will bs found .to be tolerably near the truth. ■ Ministerial intermenti..n. ■ The Acting-Prime Minister and the Minister of Mines are being v.ufmly congratulated upon the of their intervention. The Pion. vv. D. S. MacDonald had previously won a good deal of pouuiarity among the ■mines on the West Coast by his capable and sympathetic administration of the Mines Department, but Sir

James Allen had to face seme political prejudice during the early part of the mission and on this account his ultimate success was ail the more creditable to him. Local reports show that the Ministers made an excellent impression upon the strikers by their absolute candour. They held out no hope of the provisions of the Military Service Act being modified and refused to make any promise that could embarrass the Government in the administration of the law. With all this, according to the men themselves, they were patient and tactful and their success may be fairly regarded as a personal triumph. THE FUTURE. It is hoped that the settlement is so well based that it will endure till long after the conclusion of the war, but the Government and the local author-

ities are not going to prematurely

abandon the precautions they have taken against a coal famine. The limited railway service will be continued in all its essential features till the staff-saving” time-table comes into

force at the beginning of next mouth and the tramways will not return to t-ie old conditions till they have rcpleted their stocks of fuel. The citizens still are being urged, somewhat fruitlessly it would seem, to exercise economy in the use of electric light

and gas, and some of the shops and offices are continuing the measure or daylight-saving they inaugurated last week.

THE REDUCTION OF RACING

Ther e have been several discussions during the week between representatives of the Racing Conference and a committee of the Cabinet in regard to the proposal for the reduction of race meetings. Nothing has been allowed to transpire concerning Ibe proceedings, but it is understood the committee is now preparing a scheme for submission to the representatives of the Conference at a meeting to be

held here in a fortnight’s time

far as can be gathered, the delegates have agreed that it is desirbale to effect some reduction during the course of the war. One of the main problems before them is whether the met-

ropolitan or the country programmes shall be cut down and on this point they are reported tc be about equallydivided. In the meantime the Minister of Railways is simplifying the position by refusing travelling facilities to meetings that interfere with his reduction scheme.