WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1921, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE. DEMOCRAT AND GREAT IMPERIALIST.

AN APPRECIATION

(Our Special Correspondent;

WELLINGTON, June 13,

One of the pleasant features of the tributes paid to the memory of the late Air geddon on the fifteenth anniversary of his death was the warm appreciation of the Liberal leader expressed with obvious sincerity by his former political .opponents. “A true Democrat and a great Imperialist,” was the phrase into which one of the most active of them compressed his admiration of the deceased statesman. The “Dominion”, speaking from the same side of politics was no less appreciative. “At the moment,” it says, “with the Empire’s Prime Ministers gathering for conference in London, it should lie recalled that Mr Reddon was the first of the Premiers to establish persona] relations with Downing Street.” He did a great work, this organ of his political opponents goes on to emphasise, in creating a, sentiment of Imperial unity that reached far beyond the shores of New eZaland, that made this country’s effort in the Great War possible arid that gave its people a place among the nations. “It is a pity,” the “Dominion” says in conclusion, “such anniversaries are so slightly remembered.”

COST OF LIVING. The conference which took place between the representatives of the employers nnd of the employees here on Friday for the purpose of discussing the c ost of living and its relation to wages reached no conclusion that is likely to greatly assist in settling the difference between the parties. The real point at issue was whether or not the decline in prices during the next six months would bo sufficient to make a continuation of the bonus to the workers, unnecessary. The members of the conference having listened to an address from Mr W. J. McDonald, the chairman of the Board -if Trade, Mr McCombs, one of the representatives of the employees, moved to the effect that the delegates were satisfied there would be no reduction in the cost of living during the period specified. 'Die motion was rejected and one moved by Mr T. R. Weston, a representative of the employers, expressing the opinion that from the date of the termination of the agreements in regard to butter, sugar and flour at the end of August September and February respectively, there would he reductions in the prices of these comtnodities. carried unanimously. LABOUR’S ARGUMENT.

.The conference was not oped" to the Press and only the information supplied by the parties is available. "From this it looks ns if any substantial decline in the prices of the commodities specifically mentioned during the next months tVfcre highly improbable. The butter agreement will expire at the end of August, and then the Government subsidy will definitely cense, lvut the representatives of the dairy interests probably are not merely bluffing when they say they arc confident of the present price being maintained. The. sugar agreement will terminate a month Inter, hut there is no assurance of a simultaneous reduction in price, and there can be no decline in the prices of wheat and flour before February or March of > next year. In'these circumstances Labour is urging that there is no ground at all for either the withdrawal or the reduction of the bonus and it is understood it will return to the Arbitration Court determined to get wliat it regards as its rights in this matter. The ability of the employers to continue paying the high rates of wages is never doubted for n moment by the men or their leaders. IMMIGRATION AND IMMIGRANTS.

"Reports from some of Flic country districts are to the effect that a proportion of the immigrants brought from Home are of poor physique and unlikely tfi adapt themselves quickly to New Zealand conditions. The matter was memtioned at tho Palmerston North Hospital Board last week and inquiries that have been made since, suggest that some of the recent arrivals, particularly the women and children, are considerably below the physical standard maintained in this country. The responsible Minister, on the other hand, is confident from bis own personal observation and from the reports furnished to his office that the great majority of the immigrants are of a good type and likely to make useful and sueeeisfnl settlers There may be families lie says, in which the whole of the members are not equally robust, but differences of this sort are met with everywhere, and British born people are not being excluded from Now Zealand because they are not so strong as the seasoned “hack blocker.”