BRIGHTER OUTLOOK

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 146, 17 December 1913, Page 7

BRIGHTER OUTLOOK

— * — RESTORATION OF COASTAL SERVICES THE MINEOWNERS 1 STIPULATION REOPENING UP WEST COAST PORTS. POSITION 0l< ( SEAMEN. The situation caused by the fctrike is g«n«ftl]y brighter all over the Dominion. The prospects of the firemen and seamen returning to work are improving, t.h» men having given indications enough that they will talc* mutters Into their own hand* independently of whether the * Federation of Labour orders them to go back at stop out. As for the Federation, it (teems it is making a great secret ot what it Is doing, because it m not doing anything except receive and despatch telegram*, 'llio four main ports have now shed every VeAtige of «, strike, and Welling-i ton retains only a few mounted special constables a« a reminder that thor« hiu» be*n a «»rik« In- the smaller ports to which the strike extended, , work hn« been resumed with tho exception c-t WeAtport and Oroymouth. Tho former is "standing solid* tt& tho plnfase goasj the latter i* making an effort to rewpen. It is probable that tho next point upon which public attention will be focussed will bo the- West Coast. The mine owner* have decided that the mines ehall reopen next month, and that the men employed shall be member* of an Arbitration Union. If the minera will not agre«, then tho mines will not reopen a« a whole, but pflort* will be concentrated upon ono mine- at a tilno ac hand* are available. Greymouth will reopen its port under the protection ot special constabulary, and COO men have now been enrolled for service.