WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1917, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Coal Mines Dispute. Stiil Unsettled. (Our Special Correspondent.) Wellington, May 14 The failure of the Employers’ Association aud the Coal Miners' Federation to reaoh an agreement in regard to the mattera in dispute between them does not necessarily mean that the country is going to be plunged into another wasteful industrial struggle. Both sides are anxious to avoid such a deplorable outcome as this would be and the Acting Prime Minister is doing his utmost to effect an amicable settlement. Sir James Allen,indeed, has brought down upon himself a considerable amount of adverse criticism by his generous interpretation of his oompact with tbe men and it is rumoured there was wag some very plain speaking at hia interview with the employers on Saturday evening. THE PRESENT OUTLOOK The dispute now seems to have reached a stage at which the men must either accept the employers’ terms or submit with wbat grace they can to tbe intervention of tbe Conciliation Council and the Arbitration Coart. The employers’ offer of an additional war bonus of per cent on the existing bonus of 10 per cent, though it probably does not fully cover the increase in the cost of living, is net illiberal when the high rate of wages is considered. The men themselves rather discounted the importance of the wages question by their' “alow strike’ and public sympathy would not be with them if they now made it the occasion for involving tbe community in resawed strife and further loss. THE WHEAT QUESTION. Though no announcement of the Hon W. D. S. MacDonald’s departure for Australia was made in the newspapers, of course the fact of h:s visit to Melbourne and its purpose were widely known. For sometime past the Minister of Agriculture has realised that the response to his appeal to farmers to grow more wheat this se .son was not sufficiently general to ensure an adequate supply for next year and Australia remains the only source from which the deficiency can be covered.

Tbe completion of the negotiations mentioned in the cablegrams this morning wiil not affect the Government's obligations to those farmers who are growing wheat aud the prices guaranteed for the local product will be paid whatever may be the cost of the imported supplies. THE SHIPPING SHORTAGE The warning issued by the Acting Prime Minister to tho effect that the shortage of shipping is likely to be more acute than ever during tb9 next few months suggests mauy grave poeeibilitiee to producer? and holders cf Btocka.

There are large sappliea of batter and cheese on hand here which are taxing all the available 'storage accommodation and the withdrawal of four of the five steamers trading between tbe Dominion and the West Ooait ports of America will considerably aggravate the position. The eole crumb of cimtort in the situation is for tbe Ijcal oonenraer, who may through tha congestion of etook3 be able to obtain supplies at lower rates than he lately has b-.en paying