WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 March 1917, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

LABOR TROUBLES, (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, March ]. • The present position of the coulminers' and seamen's disputes cannot be regard; ed as satisfactory. The negotiations with the employers have been broken oft' in eaeli ease, and inquiries made among the interested parties to-day indicate that tlie breaches, while not incapable, of being bridged, are perilously wide. The strongest ground for a hopeful outlook is still the determination of the Government to use all the powers at its disposal to prevent any dislocation of industry. The conference between the miners and the mine-owners broke up on the question of wages. The men demanded an increase of 17% per cent over' and above the war bonus of 10 per cent, already granted. The owners offered an increase of five per cent. <>n the present wages, including the, war Winn.. 3otli parties state to-day that tiiev cannot yield any ground. The Minister l'or Mines has received delegations from each side during the day. The nature of tile next step has not been announced, but it is expected that the employers will take steps to bring the matter before the Conciliation Council and the Arbitration Court, in accordance with the precedent set by the shipping employers in the wstcr-idrrs' dispute. The miners are already inconveniencing the employers, and incidentally ihe public and nation at large by working slow, and so reducing the production at the mines. Their tactics are stated to represent an addition of a shilling per ton to the cost of coal at the pithead. J?he seamen's conference is said to have split upon the question of hours. The men are asking for an eight-hout day, which has been in operation in the Australian coastal service foi several years. The employers stute that there are special reasons why an eight-hou? day cannot be granted on some of the New Zealand coastnl .steamers, though it is understood thev would accept the proposal in a somewhat modified form. The men are asking for increased wages, but as similar rates have already been given in Australia it may be assumed that Xe\t Zealand employers will 'be milling to fall into line, though possibly under protest. The conference in connection with the seamen's claims Is stated to have ended very abruptly, and it is possible that the parties will come together again for some further dimension. Outside influence may be brought to bear with this object infview. The watcrsjders' dispute is in a quiescent state at the present time, i/emiiny the holding of the Dominion conference recommended by the Conciliation Council. This ((inference will be field Usrc on WedncMlav next.