WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1921, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE FARMERS’ RETORT

IN SELF DEFENCE

(Our Special Correspondent)

WELLINGTON, Jail. 24

After a somewhat lengthy incubation : the Farmers’ Union has hatched out its scheme for educating public opinion on matters intimately concerning bile primary producers. For the purpose of counteracting “the pernicious and erroneous statements published in the daily papers from time to time” it is going to launch a publicity campaign by which these statements will be “answered and contradicted’ and the truth made known to the world at large. It is intended to engage a “trained writer” who will prepare “suitable articles for distribution to the daily Press, dealing with the fanner’s work, his losses, his disabilities and his hardships.” Tile public, it, appears, is to he shown the seamy side oi the rural life and the young men who are being urged to get on to tbe valid are to be warned against such n liaaardous proceeding. THE CITY VIEW. Business men seen here to-day had not noticed that any of tho important papers had been disseminating the idea that the farmer was the chief of the profiteers and exploiters. If any such allegation had been made, they said, it was no far and so notoriously wide ol the truth that no sane and observant person was likely to be misled by its: iteration. One or two of these business men, however, thought -the Farmers’ j Union was making a mistake in con- . sthntly appealing to the Government for assistance of one sort and another to its members. A feeling lias got abroad that the Union meddled too much with politics, not necessarily party politics, and its publicity campaign was not likely to mend matters in this direction. FIREMEN'S DISPUTE. The dispute between the locomotive firemen and the Railway Depaitment,

as was generally expected, has he, patched up temporarily and negot

tions for a settlement are now m progress. It seems that the men had issued their strike notice without the authority of their national executive and that this facilitated the tentative arrangement under which they are now working. There is little doubt, however, that further trouble will he averted. The authorities have recognised that the men are entitled to some consideration, and the consideration can he scarcely less than the men have demanded. Apparently the handling ol poor coal must he their lot for some time to come, and the additional labour this fuel entails would not he extravagantly remunerated at 2s a day. THE COAL DISPUTE.

The coal dispute remains in a less promising position. The miners have accepted the suggestion of the Prime .Minister for the appointment, of a Disputes Committee consisting of two representatives troin each side, but they retain the right of approving or disapproving of the Chairman. Ibis mat or may not mean that substantial progress has been made towards a settlement. The miners .‘dill may determine whether the negotiations shall proceed or not. A statement made by one of thair leaders to-day encourages the hop# that the men will Ik 1 reasonable, hut- they are a difficult- body of workers to deal with and no one can say what will happen next. Meanwhile a serious coal shortage is being created by the men's persistence in the go-slow policy.