WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1922, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

P. AND T. OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION

CONFERENCE STILL SITTING

BI*ISCUL tO GUAiUJUff. I WELLINGTON* May 8 1

The delegates representing the Pdst and Telegraph Officers’ Association who gatl’.ered here last week to consider the position created by the PostinaslerOeneral’s veto of the Association's proposal to affiliate with the Alliance of Labour still are sitting in conference. The Executive of the Association intervi wed the Minister on. Saturday in private, but it'is understood little prog:ess was made towards a settlement. Rumour has it that the Executive suggested the Association in return for abandoning its idea of affiliation should be given a special tribunal to deal with its grievances, and that the Minister declined to consider the suggestion till the Association definitely submitted to the ruling of the constituted allthoriies. The delegates met again this morning and probably will see the Minister this afternoon with an alternative suggestioh. Thd popular opiliion now is that the Association will further modify its demands and find the Government disposed to make some mitldr concessions. i GOVERNMENT PUHLieAtiON. At the end of last month the Minister in charge of the Government Printing Office, in pursuit of the Cabinet’s policy of economy, decreed that such official publications as the Statutes, Hansard, Journals of the House and the Gazette should be no longer supplied free of charge to public libraries, with the exception of those in the four chief centres. The result has been a loud outcry from the provincial libraries which argue, with some show of reason, that country people, perhaps with only a limited newspaper service, stand much more urgently in need of these publicatibiis tllan do the town people. Had the Allhistef included the foiir l>ig cities in his economising effort he probably would have escaped much of the criticism that is being heaped upon him, hut the discrimination he has exercised has set two-thirds of the members of Parliament bombarding him with letters of protest and it is quite on the cards that in the end he will have to give way. REPATRIATION. There has been much talk lately of the continued expenditure in connection with tlie Repatriation Department, hut so far as can be gathered from official statements the cost of this effort on behalf of returned soldiers is being rapidly reduced. There catt be 110 doubt however, that at one tittle the activities of the Department got somewhat out of luihd. .With plenty of money available the district committees gave free play to their very natural and proiter sympathies and in some cases made advances which never will be recovered. The Ijjinister, however, is now giving his personal attention to the business and the staff of the Department and its expenditure will be largelv reduced at the end of next month. Speaking generally, the repayments have been well maintained, most of the men making commendable efforts to keep faith with the Department, but, as was inevitable from the first,a certain number of had debts have been incurred and these in the ordinary course will be added to the cost of the war. THE POOLS. The nffiat pool is already being followed by A more tiffin half-fledged butter pool atid flow there is a timber pool in sight. What Mr MasSey will make of his babies is a matter Mr tile Pfiine Minister himself to decide, but it is a little surprising to find a large section of the Labour Party rejoicing over their birth. Mr Massey long ago claimed to lie the best Liberal in the House of Representatives, and by his adoption of Liberal measures be has done a good deal to justify the claim, but now many of the workers profess to believe he is oil a fail 1 way to becoming a good socialist, well disposed towards the nationalisation of the means of production,, transport and exchange. Of course it is an extravagant fancy, put forward in jest, but it reflects to soihe extent the fears of Mr Massey’s political friends who are liot yet reconciled to his excursions into State trading.