WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 25, 29 January 1921, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE COAL DISPUTE. AT A CRITICAL STAGE. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, January 28. " No progress has been made towards the settlement of the coal dispute. Tin representatives of the miners are insist" ing upon the unconditional reinstatement of Henderson, the Blackball trucker they believe to have been vi> timised, or the appointment of a chairman practically of their own choosing to the proposed conciliation committee. The owners, on the other hand, are refusing to accept the dictation of the men in regard to the administration of the regulations, and claiming -that a stipendiary magistrate, with a knowledge of mining custom and practice would be the proper person to preside over the deliberations of the proposed committee. Mr. Massey is expected to return to town to-day and to be prepared with his final appeal to the parties to avoid a resort to the brute force of a strike.

CONCERN FOR THE PUBLIC. Meanwhile the prospects of an amicable settlement are by no means encouraging. Replying through the columns of the ".Post" last evening to » letter addressed to him by the Welfare League, urging the adoption of constitutional means in the settlement of the dispute, Mr. Arbuckle, the secretary of the Miners' Federation, displayed no disposition to follow the advice of this wellmeaning body. He declared that the Federation was as much concerned for the welfare of the public as the League was, but having a great principle to maintain as much in the interest of thers workers as in the interests of the miners, it could not budge one inch from the attitude it had taken up. Meanwhile the Dublic js fearing the worst, and mating desperate efforts to lay in stocks o* joal which are forthcoming enly t»H x *»vour»-Z few. CABINET ADJTTSTMKf*. it seems now that Sir William Herriee will not retire from the Cabinet before leaving for England nest week. It was his own desire, and the imperative advice \>f his doctor, that he should take this step, but his colleagues are anxious that he should retain his portfolios and leave their administration to other hands , during his absence. No definite announcement has yet been made on the subject, but the indications are that hia I colleagues will have their way and that Sir 'William will leave with the status of a Minister of the Crown. The arrangement will not be unacceptable to any of the political parties on personal grounds. Sir William being one of the most popular members of the Ministry, but there is some speculation as to ho , * I the work of the absent Minister will be j distributed. A substantial addition te I Mr. Massey's heavy burden appears inevitable.