WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 April 1917, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE COAL SIRIKE. STILL •UNSETTLED. (Special Correspondent.) Wellington, April 18. So far the efforts of Sir James Allen and the Hon. W. D. S. Macdonald appear to lfave efl'ected no improvement in the position on the West Coast and tl'e delay in reaching a settlement of the trouble is causing a good deal of uneasiness, throughout the community. Just what significance should 'he attached to the telegram which the secretary of the United Federatifin of Labour has addressed to the Acting-Prime Minister it is difficult to say, hut the message certainly does nob represent the views of the great mass of the workers here, who, however much they may disapprove of the principle of conscription In the abstract, realise the importance of the Dominion discharging its obligations to the Empire fully and promptly at the present stage in the groat national crisis. They deny the right of the Federation to speak on their behalf in this respect and protest that the organisation is doing Labour an incalculable injury 'by prejudicing it jn the eyes of electors whose co-operation it will need after the war, RAILWAY SERVICES. The fact tha& the negotiations between the Ministers and the miners on the West Coast are not progressing as smoothly as it was hoped they would, is brought home to the public this inorning by an announcement from the 'Minister of Railways that "consequent on the serious shortage of coal throughout New Zealand" the staff-saving which was to have been inaaigurated at the beginning of next month will be brought into operation on Monday next in an even more drastic form than was originally contemplated. In addition to restricting tiie passenger service to the very barest necessities, the goods service will tie confined to the carriage of foodstuffs and other absolute essentials. Timber, fencing, material, iron, straw, lime and a number of other articles' in constant demand will nob be accepted till the fuel position is again assured. THE POSITION FORESEEN. It may be as well to state, what is now an open secret, that the heroin measures How determined upon were discussed by the Cabinet a week ago. The Minister of Railways was prepared even then to take the drastic steps now forced upon the Government, but after careful consideration it was decided to put the ease frankiy to the miners before going to extremes. The visit of Sir James Allen and Mr. Mac Donald to the Coast was the result of this, determination, and it now rests with the men on strike to say whether or not the public shall be put to the serious inconvenience and grave loss in which the restricted railway services will involve every section of the community. Mr. Ilerries has made thi3 point quite clear in his announcement, and the miners will have only themselves to blame if they have to 'bear the onus of dislocating the whole transport system of the Dominion. SANE LABOUR. While irresponsible agitators under various disguises are trying to stir up strife over the, administration of the Military Service Act the sane representatives of Labour, among whom Mr. A. IT. Hindmarsli and Mr, W. 11. Veitch are tlie most conspicuous figures at the moment, are attempting to arouse' ths workers'to a .proper sense of their opportunities and their responsibilities. These gentlemen arc not talking of the conscription of wealth as if it were desirable to march off the great landholder's accumulated thousands to the war; but are emphasising the point that the accumulated thousands already are at the disposal of the State to be taken by any equitable system of taxation and employed in ameliorating the condition of the less fortunate members of the community. Speaking at Petone last nighb'the member for Wellington South urged an audience of local ratepayers to bo preparing for the next Parliamentary election, which would detfide how the enormous Burdens of the war weTo to be borne arid bow the governing institutions of the country were to be brought into harmony with the ideals and aspirations of the mass of the p'eople. It was a wholesome and inspiring note after the wearisome fnlminstions of the spokesmen of the Federation of Labour, vßetxco HiSrp eaWunc,anz fi va-thul