THE ABORTIVE CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14815, 5 November 1913, Page 11

THE ABORTIVE CONFERENCE.

THE NEWS IN LYTTELTON. Si EX DISAPPOINTED. The news received yesterday morning that the conference was to bo lesumod lit Wellington during the' afternoon raised the hopes of many of the strikers in Lyttelton that a settlement would be reached, and there were numerous anxious enquiries throughout the day. WiiLe it cannot be denied that tbo Lyttelton men are .showing solidarity, and aro generally sympathetic with the Wellington men, there can be no doubt that many ol them are already heartily sick of their enforced idleness, and would gladly w.veome a se*.t'.o:nent ot the present deadlock, to enable them to •get back to work.

Scones ot actual violence such as havo taken place in other ports have not yet been witnessed in Lvttelton, and it is generally felt that there is no likelihood of serious trouble, at all events for the present.

The only vessels in port are coal and timber-laden, nearly all of wiiich aro lying 'at anchor outside, without- their crows. Tho whole of tho oversea fleet, with cargo to be landed, is at present in Wellington, and the attitude of a'J watersido workors will Ik? decided by tho outcome of the strike at that port. None of the steamers can roach Lyttelton until they have completed their work at Wellington, and it is thought that it will be time enough to brine free labour into Lyttelton when that stage is reached.

The hopes of tho mon in Lyttelton wero clashed to the ground yesterday afternoon when a telegram was received from Wellington and posted up outside tiho Coronation Hall. It road:—Conference abortives insist on coming under Arbitration: fi-rlit now on.— Hickey. Thero was a feeling of general disappointment, and many remarked: "It's a fight to a finish now."