WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 March 1921, Page 8

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE WATERSIDE DISPUTE. NEGOTIATIONS PROCEEDING. (Special Correspondent.) Wellington, March 7.’ Though neither the representatives of the employers nor the representatives of the men have to give >ny indication of the progress of the negotiations that have been going on between them during the week-end, the hope of an early settlement is more general to-day than it has been at any other time since the commencement of the trouble. The employers are standing quite, firmly on their demand that work shall proceed qn normal lines, which meant that the “go slow” policy shall be abandoned and pin-pricking tactics discontinued. The demand appeals so directly to the common sense and industrial conscience of the great mass of the community that the men are realising it cannot be successfully apposed. With this much conceded, howevey, the men's position would be enormously strengthened by \ public opinion being with them in seeking the redress of some of their real grievances. nationalisation.

The' trouble on the waterside has turned very naturally increased attention to the proposal for the nationalisation of the harbors of the Dominion. The opponents of the proposal '"still insist that State control would be extravagant, wasteful and inefficient, but the delegated control the Dominion has had during the past decade certainly has not been free from these defects and the advocates of nationalisation are not allowing the public to forget the fact. They maintain, on the other hand, that it is scandalously undemocratic to place a number, of private individuals, often the nominees of outside shipping companies, in control of the harbors of the Dominion, with authority to dislocate traffic and transit just whenever they please. On these linCs there has been much talk in Wellington during t\ie past fortnight. THE SHORT SESSION. Some of the provincial members of the House already are here in readiness for the short session of Parliament on Wednesday. A Reform caucus will be held before the formal opening, and the members of the Party will be given to understand what is expected of them during the session. The Liberal opposition will offer no serious opposition to the Government’s programme, which will be made as light as possible, but the opposition is threatening to do a good deal of talking, mainly, it is suggested, with the object of obtaining recognition as the second party in the House. It mhy even move an amendment to the Address-in-Reply, but -on this point it will not make up its mind till all its members are in town. . THE COAL (MINERS. The coal mines dispute has been relegated into secondary importance in public opinion by the waterside dispute which seemed to affect the comfort and welfare of the community more intimately. But the miners still are seeking a hearing and the members of their executive meeting here to-day have no definite statement to communicate .to the public. The old agreement between the parties expired at the end of last month, and left the men with their demands for a six-hour day, a five-day week anil the abolition of the contract system unsatisfied. The owners, indeed, have refused to negotiate with the men till these demands are withdrawn. There is a feeling abroad, however, that the parties are drawing nearer together, and that the men are coming to realise it would be bad policy to begin a fight in which public opinion would be arrayed against them.