WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 April 1917, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE COAL STRIKE, CAUSE AND EFFECT. , (Special Correspondent). Wellington, April 20. ( The Government is taking particular , Uie public shall understand the relation between the coal-miners' strike und the lessening of travelling facilities. Its advertisements announcing the reduction of railway services are headed "Coal Miners' Strike," and the Minister lets all inquirers know that even the attenuated time-table to come into force on Monday cannot be maintained unless the men resume work within the neat week or two. That the Government is not merely bluffing the publio in order to secure its sympathy in the present trouble is shown by the fact that public bodies, manufactur- . ing concerns and members of private . firms dependent upon regular supplies of , fuel are cutting down their operations ( and preparing as best they can tb withstand a coal famine. ; the effect on sport.. At the moment it looks as if the reduction of the railway services would have a much more far-reaching effect on lacing than was at first, 'expected. If the ordinary facilities are not quickly resumed probably many of' the winter fixtures will liave to be abandoned. Yesterday the special arrangements made for the Manawatu Racing Club's meeting to he held at Palmers+on North on Wednesday and Thursday of next week, which were regarded as a final burst of railway extravagance, so to Bpeak, were cancelled, and the Minister even refused to carry horses to keep their ' engagements there. It is hoped, however, 1 that Mr. Herries may yet be induced to ' modify his determination, and that the " Manawatu Club, which has devoted the ' tvhole of its profits since the beginning of the war to patriotic purposes, will be saved from the threatened financial loss. LOCAL MEASURES.

The general manager of the Wellington City Council's Tramways and Electric Lighti_g Departments has prepared suggestions for reducing the consumption of coal on local services which will awsJ-en c'tbens of all degrees to the gravity o£ the situation. They include the I'cductio.i jf tram services, the cessation of x-rk in officer and warehouses at 4.30 p.m., md in shops at 5.30 p.m., jfchr proh ifcion of all external illuminating and advertising sigjs ti}l 7 p.m., und the cb'ji: g of the picture shows between *.30 p.m. and 1 p.m. This World Bcaa, among other things, the. -Action o" a lixye instalment of the daylight savLg scheme, and, of courpe, w food ueJ. of real irconvenience until the y ibl'i, bxsntc accuptom»d to the new prlei' tf bv.t if strike sho'lM fce pro'oicod f«r tl rct or four montlm rvon m„n hastjc measures would be necessary, rnJ 'b:- [-■' or of beginning the •penomiea at once.

T_l CXnEKXKEKT CFJTIOISDD. I. k pcarcely necessary to say the National Cff transit Ji bfei»q vary candidly aid very strrngly criticised in connection w'th fts difficulties that have lirisen. First of all, Mr. Masssjr and Sir Joseph Ward are being blamed for stopping away from the country at such a time. The political opponents of two years ago are joining forces to-day in denouncing the party leaders for "frittering away their time in London" when they ought to be here "attending to the crying needs of the Dominion." Then their colleagues who are filling their places are being blamed for their handling of the labor trouble, and for their sudden and clumsy introduction of economies-which ought.to have been Introduced two years ago. All this may be very unreasonable, as it certainly is Inopportune, but the dissatisfaction is not confined to disgruntled politicians nor to the perennial fault-finders. It is significant of the temper of the community. /