Our Wellington Letter

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 38, 13 September 1890, Page 3

Our Wellington Letter

Cfbom <ma own correspondent.) t^ Wellington, September 11. %' "When is the House going to prorogue ? " is a question easier asked than answered. Last week it- was confidently expected that to-day or to-morrow would see the end of the present Parliament, but now that Mr Goldio haß given notice of what really amounts to a no-confidence motion, the prorogation is postponed for at least another week. Ministers are blamed on all sides for their compact vrith. the " Skinflints," which has had the effect of certain yotes being cut down jwhich could not stand it,, and now that it is proposed to reinstate them on the Supplementary Estimates, the forces are • * being rallied to oppose them, which may lead to a protracted debate, but there does not seem to be a ghost of a chance of the unfortunates getting back their lost coin. Matters on the wharf are very quiet. 3?or the past week the various Unions have provided picquets to preserve order, and to prevent those who had no business on the wharf front going thereon. This action was very highly commended, and the newspapers spoke in glowing language about the conduct of the men. It has at last dawned upon the Unionists, however, that they were really protecting the ** blacklegs " v whilst the latter worked * way merrily on the wharf and steamers, so to-day the picquets have been with<drawn, and the police and wharf officers are guarding the chain which forms a Carrier to the entrance of the wharf. It is beginning to be recognised on all sides now. that' the present strike is' an illadvised one, and secessions from Unions are very numerous. Several storemen ■who have been in permanent positions for the past 20 years have come out on strike in response to the demands of their TTnions, and will neyer see the inside of their stores again. One or two cases that have come under my personal obserTation seem very hard. One married ■man with five children, who. has. only - heen out from England a few months and who, after a great struggle, managed ' to get into a warehouse, has had to come •out, and the chances are it may be many long days before be gets another such position. A. young man, who is the main stay of a large family,, and who was engaged in the same store, came out also, but with tears in his eyes. He said he had not had. work for months, and he was trusting to this position to help him through with his burden. On asking •him why he joined the Union his reply : " Well, sir, all the others were Unionists and they -would not have worked with me, so I did it to save what it has really brought— trouble." These -are only a few cases of men whom I know personally, and I dare say there are iundreds more who are probably worse situated.' The leaders of the men, judging from whafrT saw a day or two since, •are not the sort to smooth matters over. The schooner Falcon was being unloaded by Unionists, and all went well till 12 o'clock, when a non-Unionist carter was employed, and the " fat was in the £re" at once. A severe looking man appeared on the scene and in a stentorian voice called out : "My orlers r to block everything." In vain did the captain, agent and consignee endeavor to ■ascertain by what means they could all •work amicably.: The only reply was : •*' Do what you.like, sirs, my orders is to ilock everything." ,1 have sympathised all along with the labor party, but I walked away in disgust at the pig-head-•edness of this man, and ceased to wonder -why- a settlement 6eeined to be getting . further and further away. Bather an amusing incident occurred r**ion the Wharf a few' days ago. A gentleman, who has the honour to represent a Southern constituency in Parliament, and ~who has been championing this cause of Unionism in the House whenever opportunity ofiered, took it into bis head, during his peregrinations, he would " sniff the briny," and no doubt felt that his mame would be quite sufficient "pass" for any where, hut when he reached, the picquets and found bis progress barred, he stretched himself to his full height, told them that he was an M.H.8., and as « final " crusher " he said " I am Mr Snooks." He waited to see the faces of the picquets blanch, but the only response -was ; " Can't help it, boss, you'll have to ,get a ticket or you 'don't pass this ere •chain," and back the champion of ' the labor party bad to go, feeling that after all his fame had not Spread much farther than the walls of the House, and that probably his magic eloquence had been wasted on. the desert air.