WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1921, Page 7

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE WATERSIDE DISPUTE. (Special Correspondent.) Wellington, March 4. There has been no apparent change in the position on the waterfront during the last day or two. A little diversion was created yesterday by the unloading of the Admiral Godrington, a vessel belonging to the Poverty Bay Freezing Company, but the incident has. no material bearing upon the dispute between the shipowners and the watersiders. The Freezing Company, which purchased the Admiral Godrington for the purpose of moving its own products, has never been in association with the big shipping companies, and its directors, represented in Wellington just now by Mr. W. D. Lysnar, M.P., felt at liberty to make their own arrangements for unloading the vessel and giving her quick cjespatch. This; they have done without ’ difficulty and with results, so far, which seem satisfactory to both parties. A MATTER GF TACTICS. The incident gave the watersiders an opportunity to emphasise the reiterated assertion that they are ready at all times to accept work in terms of the existing agreement, and to make a display of expedition which has not been common on the wharves during the last few months. At the end of the day’s work the representatives of the ship expressed themselves as entirely satisfied with the manner in which the cargo had been handled. No overtime was worked, but it is understood the men were ready to go on, had they been required to do so. But this little demonstration is not going to hasten the settlement of the trouble. Had the men met the associated owners as they met Mr. Lysnar yesterday, probably the dispute never would have arisen and, in any case, public sympathy, always the deciding factor in such matters, would have been on their side. THE TRIUMPHANT BOOKMAKER. When seen to-day in regard to the failure of the Police to obtain convictions in the Wellington Supreme Court against bookmakers, the Hon. E. P. Lee, the Minister of Justice, simply reiterated what he previously had stated on the subject. He was carefully considering the position and consulting his colleagues and the Crown Law office in regard to the future, but no fresh legislation on the subject would be attempted during the approaching session of Parliament. It would be quite impossible, the Minister said, to deal with the question effectually in the midst of the preparations for the Prime Minister’s departure. The law, however, would stand, and it would be vigorously enforced Whenever and wherever the neces- i sity arose. The Government, as the representative of Parliament, was not going to accept defeat at the hands of the bookmakers. LABOR AND THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. It is being assumed here from the allusions made by the two Christchurch labor members, Mr. D. G. Sullivan, and Mr. E. J. Howard, to Mr. Massey’s attendance at the Imperial Conference, that' their party in the House will raise more or less strenuous opposition to the Prime Minister leaving the Dominion in this time of financial difficulty and industrial trouble. But the only effect such opposition could have would be to prolong the session for a day or two, and involve the country in so much additional expenditure. The members of the Liberal Party, who by the way, are as widely divided as ever on the question of leadership, would not join in the obstruction, and the big battalion of the Reform Party could be trusted to facilitate in every way possible the jujtx&xameulia.