WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1918, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

TUS MINERS' DISVUT.a :|

A CRITICAL POSITION, (Special Correspondent). Wellington, August 21 The figures published yesterday, purporting to show that a large majority (if the coal miners wars in. favor of striking if the owners persisted m tneir recusal to. confer with the representatives of the men, were intended, no duiibt, 10 jstrcngthen the hands of the Miners' (Federation in its negotiation with the jCoveruiueut and with tlie O'.vncrs' Association. With 2157 votes for sinking jand oiiiy 84 against, the mandate from jthe men seemed clear and empmitio '■enough. But a rumour has got about to itlie cli'ect that tile issue submitted to the "ballot was not quite so precise and dethiite as the Federation would have the public believe. It is stated that only an abstract principle was< put before the men and that they did not pledge themselves to the length the figures imply ■'ttiey did. REACHING A CRISIS.

TJut, however this may bo, it h obyious that Urn trouble i 9 rapidly approaching a crisis. The representatives of the men and of the employers are now in Wellington conferring among themselves and, strictly in camera, with the Minister of Mines. The Hon. W. D. f>. MaclJonald has taken up a very firm attitude with both parties and evidently is determined to put an end to the present unsatisfactory state of affairs as speedily as possible. The result may he a conference between the employers and tlia men under the presidency of the Minister, and if this is brought about it probably will be the first step towards an amicable settlement. Meanwhile the Acting Prime Minister is reminding both parties of their obligations and reiterating the Government's intention to see them observed.

THE APPROACHING SESSION. Though the cable agent was allowed to say the other day that he had found Sir Joseph Ward packing up picparatory to his return to New Zealand, the newspapers are not permitted to indicate what are likely to be the absent Minister's movements during the next few weeks. Sir James Allen expects, however, that both Mv Massey and Sir Joseph will be in their places when Parliament meets at the beginning of October and that there will he no need to prolong the session over Christmas. People generally in the confidence of the Minister for Finance says there is not the least prdbaibility of his remaining behind his colleague. Ultimately he may accept an ambassadorial position in London, but if he does it will be only after consultation -with his 'friends in New Zealand.

SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENT.' A return prepared by the Minister of Lands shows that just upon £1,000,000 has been expended in the purchase of land for settlement by returned soldiers. Of this sum £2<50,493 has been expended in the Wellington district, £272,771 in Auckland. £1105,033 in Canterbury, £7S,203 in Hawke's Bay and £05,371 in Olago' and Southland. The 'Minister, of course, quotes only the official figures in regard to the progress of the various settlements, but it would seem from these that some of the high-priced land has not proved very attractive to the men for whom it was intended. Of the fourteen holdings on the settlement at Kopane, for instance, costing £OS an acre, six arc still vacant, the applicants having called off their undertakings and gone in .search of cheaper land. That is significant of the spirit abroad among the men.