WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1920, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

INDUSTRI AL UNREST,

THE EMPLOYERS’ CONFERENCE,

(Our Special Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, June 10.

It, is significant of the trend of public opinion that the two .Wellington newspapers popularly regarded as faithful allies of capital are loudly deploring the refusal of the Employers’ Federation to accept the invitation of the Labour Federation to a conference for the discussion of the industrial situation. "Their actual decision,’’ the "Dominion'’ says, referring to the determination of the representatives of the Employers’ Federation, “shows them at least wanting in enterprise, and will leave in many minds a suspicion, which we believe to be baseless, that their professions of good intent are lukewarm. The "Evening Post” is even more emphatic. Nothing the Employers’ Federation has said alters its opin_ jon that a national conference would help to clear the air. “The employers’ attitude of no-conforencc,” it- maintains, ‘‘renders them liable to the imputation of half-boaytcdness and is' a conciliation possibilities as the industrial situation affords.” The unaccustomed plain speaking naturally has attracted the attention of the Employers Association.

ANXIOUS FOR PERMANENT PEACE.

The secretary of the organisation, who doubtless will deal with its critics through the usual channels, speaking Unofficially this morning and without in any way committing his executive, Said lie wa ß surprised by the newspapers’ pro. mentation of the case which certainly did something less than justice to the employers. He had taken it for granted that every observant man and woman in the community realised that the i employers were more closely interested than anyone else in the maintenance o" industrial peace. If they coiild .be assumed of a full supply of capable and contented labour they could at once largely extend their operations an<l by the increase in their turn-over materially increase their profits, benefits in which the workers, quite rightly, would inevitably share. But their experience ,had satisfied them that conferences', without some settled basis of goodwill and good understanding would contribute nothing towards this desirable end. The Employers’ Federation, however, would keep wide open the door to friendly discussion and negotiation.

SOUTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY. The little tiff between the Christ, church Progress League and the Marlborough Main Trunk League over the relative claims of the East and West Coast Railway and the Main Trunk line to early completion, has attracted a good deal of attention here and excited some pointed comment. The suggestion of the Christchurch League that Wellington is using tho Marlborough League to put a "spoke into the wheel of Canterbury” is warmly re•sented in some quarters. It is quite true that while the North Island Trunk line was incomplete Wellington objected to large sums of money being spent upon tho East and West Coast line, but it never objected to the South Island Trunk line making progress towards its terminug to Picton. Canterbury, it is being pointed out, wa 9 eager enough to have the liue pushed on while it remained within its own commercial' sphere, but now it is making its way further North it is viewing the enterprise from quite a different standpoint. THE NEW MINISTER. It is announced this morning, again evidently with some official inspiration, that Mr Massey may find it necessary to strengthen his Cabinet somewhat earlier than he had led his friends to expect a day or two ago. It is surmised that at the full meeting of tlio Cabinet yesterday the subject was discussed and that it was agreed the ministerial team, consisting largely of new memoers, should he reinforced as early as possible in view of the heavy work promised durincr the session. The Minister ol Education is full of new projects for his department, and the Minister ; of Public Works for his, and, not being quite so long suffering as the Minister of Justice, they are not disposed to assume the responsibility of any odd job that may come along. An additional Minister, indeed, seems indispensable.