WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1921, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

COST OK LIVING BONUS

WATERSIDERS’ ATTITUDE

(Our Special Correspondent)

WELLINGTON. Jan. 12

The waterside workers, who hold aloof from the Arbitration Court and negotiate direct with the employers, .field “stop work” meetings throughout the Dominion yesterday to consider the proffered penny an hour cost of living bonus. The AT aterside orkers’ federation is taking a ballot on the. question and the result, of the voting will not he known for a fortnight or so, hut meanwhile there are indications here that a majority of the mu on the wharves are not satisfied with the offer and will stand out for a larger payment. It is unlikely, however, that they will proceed to extremes, the strike weapon having gone out of favour for the time, at any rate, and if there is a contest over the matter it probably will take the shape of the new “diplomatic pressure.” THE RACING COMMISSION. The members of the Racing Commission appointed under the lgislation of last session to report upon the distribution of totalisator permits, having agreed upon an itinerary, started out on their tour of the Wellington and Hawke’s Ray districts this morning. They will be in the Wnirarapa district to-dav, inspecting the Taulierenikau, Carterton, and Masterton racecourses, and in the evening* will receive any deputations that wish to interview them in regard to the business of the Commission. To-morrow they will visit Woodville, Pahiatua and Dnnnevirke and so on to Hastings and Napier, taking Ashburst, Palmerston North, Feilding and Fox ton on their return journey, reaching \yellington in time to attend the races at Trentham, beginning on Thursday week. So far the general public ih taking little interest in their peregrinations. THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

In a statement Jie made to the reporters yesterday in his capacity of Minister of Railways, Mr Massey, after mentioning that the Christmas and New Year holiday traffic on the lines constituted a record, warmly congratulated all ranks of the service upon the satisfactory manner in which it had hepn handled. No doubt the compliment so far as it was intended as an appreciation of the efforts of the members of the service to make the best of adverse circumstances was thoroughly deserved. A number of extra trains of a sort ware supplied, and only one passenger was actually killed. But the demands on the rolling stock of the Department revealed the shocking state of disrepair into which a large part of it has fallen and the discomfort in which many people must travel on such occasions. These defects are being repaired by the manufacture and importation of additional rolling stock, but meanwhile the New Zealand railways are unquestionably the worst equipped in Australasia. PRICE OF TOBACCO. The Board of Trade some time ago moved its offices into the residential part of the city, where, if not out of mind it is out of sight, and lately it has escaped much of the criticism that formerly was directed against its elusive head. But the announcement of an increase in the price of pipe tobacco from to-day has created quite a new army of malcontents, who number among their grievances the fact that the announcement was withheld till fill chance of their laying in supplies was gone. What is exercising the pipe smokers most, however, is the fact that the rise follows immediately upon the news of a great “slump” in tobacco in America. They have rediscovered the offices of the Board of Trade and are clamouring at thu door to know if the.v are being taxed to make up the losses of the Yankee speculators.