WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 5 April 1917, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

WAR REGULATIONS.

THE SHOE PINCHES.

0 WELLINGTON, April 4,

' The local newspapers, in spite ,of teing continually pestered by peremptory demands from the Chief of Staff to do this thing and to leave undonp that, have been giving most loyal and unquestioning support to the War Regulations, and it certainly was rather hard upon them, considering all the circumstances, to be hailed before a magistrate to answer for their own tiny deflection from the straight and narrow way in mentioning the fact that the officers and men of a certain warship were to be entertained in the Wellington Town Hall by His Worship the Mayor. But they are obtaining only the poor consolation of a general public laugh in turning upon the authorities now with charges of crass stupidity and base ingratitude and in threatening to join with Mr. Semple in challenging the validity of the Regulations. It is a case in which the saving grace of humour would have served their purpose much better than has an affectation of righteous indignation, WATERSIDE WORKERS. The lengthy conference between representatives of the Waterside Workers' Federation and representatives of the shipowners at last has terminated in an agreement between the parties which is to be submitted to the local unions for ratification. The representatives of the workers have no doubt the agreement, though it does not contain all the men were seeking. will prove acceptable to the men, and the representatives of the shipowners who, of course, have been in constant communication -with their principals, are equally confident its terms will-be confirmed by the employers. Manydelicate points were discussed during the progress of the negotiations and in the early stages of the conference grave difficulties appeared to be looming ahead, but concession from both sides and a proper conciliatory spirit overcame all the difficulties and the agreement ought to form the basis of a long enduring peace between the parties. "GOING SLOW." ' The arrests on the West Coast of the South Island and at Huntly in connection with what is known as the "slow strike" came as a surprise to most of the workers here, and to most other pecple for the matter of that, but very little sympathy is being felt for the men on whom the authorities have laid their heavy hand. Labour, sane labour, that is, frankly admits it is not being treated "so badly" in thes e strenuous times and It has no desire to create unnecessary industrial trouble. Going slow, flagrantly going slow at any rate, is not a form of protest that finds favour with the average New Zealand worker, and even his representative on the waterfront, w-ho does not always side with constituted authority, has no approval for the attempts that have been made hy some of the miners to limit the output of coal. MEETING OF PARLIAMENT. It is now being taken for granted that neither Mr. Massey nor Sir Joseph Ward will be here for the meeting of Parliament at the end of June and that the House, after making provision for supply and attending to one or two other matters of minor importance, will adjourn to await the arrival of the travellers. It is not thought the legislation in connection with the war loan announced by the Hon. A. M. Myers the other day will be introduced in the absence of the Minister of Finance, but there will be no delay in the flotation on his return and it is expected by financiers and business men that the amount required' will be readily subscribed. There is plenty of money in the country and its holders can find few better investments than the one to which they will be invited by the Government.