WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1921, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE WATERSIDE DISPUTE

NEGOTIATIONS. (Our Special Correspondent;, WELLINGTON, March 7. Though neither the representatives of tlie employers nor the representatives of the men have given any indication of the progress of the negotiations that have been going on between them during tlio week-end. the hope of an early settlement is more general to-day than it has been at any other time since the commencement of the trouble. The employers are standing quite firmly on their demand that work shall proceed on normal lines, which means that the “gc slow” policy shall he abandoned anil pin-pricking tactics discontinued. The demand appeals so directly to the common sense and industrial conscience of the great mass of the community that the men are realising it cannot he successfully opposed. A\ ith this much conceded, however, the men’s position would he enormously strengthened by public opinion being with them in seeking the redress of some of their real grievances. NATIONALISATION. Thy trouble on the waterside Juts’turn id very naturally increased attention to the proposal lor the nationalisation of the harbours of the Dominion. The opponents of the proposal still insist that State' control would he extravagant, wasteful and insufficient, but the delegated control the Dominion has had during the past decade certainly has not been free from these defects and the advocates of nationalisation are not allowing the public to forget the fact. They maintain, on the other hand, that it. is scandalously undemocratic to place a number of private individuals, olten the nominees of outside shipping companies, in control of the harbours of Ih,' Dominion, with authority to dislocate traffic and transit .just whenever they [dense. On these lines there has been much talk in Wellington dining the past fortnight. THE SHOTfT SESSION. Some of the provincial members of Ihe House are in readiness for the short session of Parliament to open Ibis week, but the majority of them will not arrive till to-morrow or Wednesday. A Deform caucus will Tie held before the formal opening and the members of the Party will he given to understand what is expected of them during the session. The Liberal Opposition will olfcr no serious opposition to the Government’s programme, which will he mad* 1 as light as possible, hut the Labour Opposition is threatening to do a good deal of talking, mainly, it is suggested, with the object of obtaining ieeognition as the second party in the House. |( may even move an amendment to the Address-in-Roph • hut on this point! it will not make up its mind lill all the members are in town. THE COAL MINES. The coal mines dispute has been relegated into secondary importance in public opinion by the waterside dispute which seemed to affect the comfort and welfare of the community more intimately. Put the miners still are seeking a lustring and the members of their executive meeting here to-day have no definite statement to communicate to the public. The* old agreement between the parties expired at the* end of last month and left the men with their demands for a six-hour day, a livo-da\ week and the abolition of the contract system unsatisfied. The owners, indeed have refused to negotiate with the men till these demands are withdrawn. There is a feeling abroad, however, that the parties are draaving nearer togethei and that the men arc* coming to realise It. would lie bad policy to begin a. fight in which public* opinion would be arrayed against them.