WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1919, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE COAL CONFERENCE STILL IN PROGRESS. (From Our Special Correspondent.) Wellington, August 0The conference between representatives of the Coal Miners' Federation and the Coal Mine Owners' Association is still in progress, and seems likely to e.vtend over the rest of the week. The feature of yesterday's proceedings was a statement made by Mr. T. (.). Bishop, the Acting Under-Secretary for Mines, which really amounted to a corroboration of the association's estimate of the ell'ect the concession of the federation's demands would have upon the cost and price of coal. The increase in the cost at the State mines, Mr. Bishop calculated, allowing for a decrease of 30 per cent, in the output, would be 12s 6d a ton for a seven-hour day and las Id a ton for a six-hour day. The total extra cost of producing an output equal to that obtained from the mines last yeaf would be £155,205, The federation's estimate of the increased cost at the proprietary mines was rather larger, but near enough to Mr. Bishop's figures to show that the owners lia<J followed very closely the same line of computation. WANTED A HEALTHY TONE. Naturally the representatives of the association were jubilant over the facts obtained from the State mines, which the representatives of the federation had implied their willingness to accept, and the lion. E. W, Alison expressed their satisfaction with an eagerness which may be pardoned in the circumstances, however, Mr. Roberts, who has Bhown himself the strong man among the miners' representatives, was by no moans dismayed by Mr. Bishop's figures, and he thanked the Acting Under-Secretary very cordially for the new light he had thrown on the position. Concluding his reply to Mr. Alison, he said there had been a "decided healthy tone" about the conference that day, which he hoped would be maintained. But, while conceding as much as this, lie insisted upon the obligation of the association to consider seriously the federation's demands and to assist towards the amicable settlement the miners desira, THE RETURNED LEADERS. The arrival of the party leaders in Auckland has brought the community a little nearer to the political activities in which it shortly will be engaged; but so far there is no indication of how or when or where the party truce will be determined. Neither Mr. Massey nor Sir Joseph Ward showed any disposition when interviewed yesterday to discuss the question, but it is obvious that both have made up their minds to the dissolution of the National Government. This does not necessarily mean that the existing arrangements will be terminated directly the Ministers set loot in Wellington, or even that it will not endure through the life of the present Parliament, but the agreement of the leaders to again disagree must materially shorten the duration of tlie session and reduce to a minimum the work attempted. If members arc called together a. fortnight hence they may be free to begin their open electioneering by the middle of next month. CABINET MAKING. The renunciation of the party truce being inevitable, either during the session or immediately after the prorogation, the gossips are finding congenial occupation in nominating the successors to the Liberal members in the Cabinet. Mr. Massey's main trouble in this .e----spect will be to find a capable financier on his own side of politics to take charge of the Treasury. It is understood that Sir James, Allen is not disposed to go back to his old position, and none of the younger members on the Reform side of the House, except, perhaps, Mr- Wilkinson, have shown any special qualifications for the high ofliee. The member for Egmont has now and again proved himself a ready exponent of the meaning of figures, but without further experience he would appear a somewhat indifferent successor to either Sir Joseph Ward or Mr. Myers in' a role which requires something more than a certain facility in destructive criticism.