WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1921, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE WATERSIDE DISPUTE. DESERTING THE WHARVES. (Our Special Correspondent;, WELLINGTON, Feb.' 23,

Mi 1,. Glover, president ot the Waterside Workers’ Federation, and Mr J Roberts, the secretary of the Federation, returned to Wellington yesterday, hut so far there is no indication of their presence having affected the position on the wharves one way or the other. The first step towards a settlement must come from their side. Seventeen ships in the port were idle yesterday, and the owners are holding firmly to their determination to employ no more labour till the men give the required guarantees to maintain normal conditions. Several vessels were moved into the stream to-day and if the position remains unchanged, arrangements will he made for paying off the crews.

A DISSATISFIED MINORITY. Though no considerable number of the watersiders have given any public expression of disapproval of the policy of their leaders, there is a feeling abroad that the men are hv no means

unanimous mi tlit* points at issue. 'lliis M'sK not merely upon the anonymous letters and the second hand accounts of dissatisfaction on the part of many married men which have appeared in the newspapers,, lmt mainly on the attitude of the more responsible section of the workers who have no sympathy witli the pin-pricking policy of the past and the present. This minority may not be strong enough to exercise any marked influence upon the counsels ot the Federation, lmt it will go a long way in moulding public opinion. THE SHIPOWNERS PREPARED. The one thing certain about the situation is that the shipowners have chosen their own time for a trial of strength and that they are not going to he turned from their purpose by appeals from one quarter or another. Whether the trouble lasts for a week or for six months they will get their way and though they are not exactly regardless of expense they are not going to allow the cost to deter them from reaching their goal. It. is hoped that these obvious facts will weigh with the executive of the Federation and that it will not involve the country in a hitter struggle which could have only one end.

THE GOVERNMENT. The time lias not yet arrived for the Government to take a hand in the matter, even to the length of offering the services towards conciliation, but the Piime Minister and the Minister of Labour are keeping a close watch on the situation with a view to mediation should a favourable opportunity occur. At the moment they are more hopeful of a speedy settlement than they were a day or two ago,' but they have no more definite information than has been given to the public. If the worst should happen it might make Mr Massey’s proposed visit to London extremely difficult, lmt Ministers do not expect the trouble to drag on as the strike of 1913 did and are fairly confident of being in smooth water by the time Parliament meets for the short session.