IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 8 November 1913, Page 5

IN CHRISTCHURCH.

A HOPEFUL FEELING

STRIKERS ANXIOUS TO RETURN TO WORK.

GHRISTOHURCH. Last Night, A more hopeful outlook was taken in town to-day by the representatives of both sides than has been the case during the past two or three) dayq( regarding the possibility of an early settlement of the strike.

The eighth day of the strike at Lyttelton was, if, anything, quieter than any since the start. There was no arrival in port to break the monotony.

Signs are not wanting that the strikers are rapidly becoming tired of their enforced idleness and will gladly welcome a call to resume work. '

Tho situation at Wellington is being closely watched for the first sign of a settlement, and many of the Lyttelton watersiders openly avow their eagerness for a finish. They express confidence that the trouble will be over, and work resumed by Monday next. A reporter was informed this af- ! ternoon that a movement in the dir- ! ection of forming a new union was making good progress and that there was a strong probability of its being an accomplished fact very soon. The : reporter's informant went as far as to state that work would be started to-morrow or Monday.

The sight of a collier being discharged by strikers attracted attention to-day. The Union Company's Flora had on board 300 tons of State coal, consigned to the Sunnyside Mental Hospital > the Christchurch Hospital, and other institutions.

Permissgk>n was given by the Strike Committee for 200 tons to he landed for the mental "hospital, 100 tows for the Christchureh hospital, and 5 tons for other - institutions. Work was started at 8 o'clock by two gangs of waterside volunteers, each fourteen strong, working |n two hour shifte. They—storked on the collier, and the baskets were tipped into trucks hy railway hands.

The strikers aro handing .the pay they will receive for the work to the strike funds. A conference was held at Lyttelton this afternoon between the Christchureh and Lyttelton Strike Committees, when the former announced the result of their with the employers yesterday. It is understood that arrangements were come to that, no matter what took place in Wellington, there would be no fighting or violence in Lyttelton. It is stated that the strikers have received a number of offers of assistance, both in cat-h and in pro-

visions. The Lack of money amongst the strikers is already having an effect_on the business of shopkeepers and coal and provision dealers, who are finding it necessary in many cases to extend the credit system to customers.