OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

Patea Mail, Volume XII, Issue 55, 5 June 1899, Page 2

OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

(From Our Correspondent.) A Tough Jon. There is now in Wellington a Mr Edwards, whose mission is to federate the different Labour organisations throughout the colony. It is stated that Mr Edwards has met with success elsewhere. That may or may not be ; but it is a certainty that the cleansing of the Augean Stables was a circumstance to the task before Mr Edwards in seeking to reconcile the hetrogeneous elements which constitute the so-called Labour Party in the Empire City. Even the ministerial organ, while it docs not throw cold waiter over Mr Edwards’ project, doubts the possibility of his achieving any result here. This in itself is significant enough. But the fact is, the Wellington workers are so split up into fractions, mainly owing to the ill-advised attempted administration of its leaders, that anything of the nature of federation or concentration, is impossible. Then oue considers that this projected federation of Labour is not what it should be, and with which every reasonable person would bo in accord, a uniting of workers to benefit tire condition of tiro labourer, but a thinly veiled disguise to secure so many dumb adherents to a doubtful policy under the mg is of Seddon, there is satisfaction in the fact that there are obstacles in the way. Whatever obstruction there is, is the sign that the working men, some of whom, at aayrate, refuse to hand themselves body and soul, over to the dictation of a few men, whose motives in the light of favours to come from the powers that be, are not above suspicion. When domination in politics is eliminated from Unionism, then, and only then, will the members thereof, confining themselves to their own conditions of labour, achieve the improvements, which, doubtless are in requisition in all branches of trades.

Exoixeeiis and Oil Exgixes. Sometime ago the Government, or perhaps more correctly, the Marine Department, controlled by that expert, Mr Hail-Jones, very properly enacted that coasting vessels, mostly of small tonnage, fitted with auxiliary screw and the humbler oil engine, should carry a certificate to see that tilings did not generally burst up, and imperil possible passengers and ere ,v. In its wisdom, however, the Government have lately seen fit to reverse its decision, which, seeing that the shipowners and the nautical vote is worth something and a general election is close at hand, is easily understood.

The position, however, remains the same. If it were once considered dangerous for such vessels to go to sea without competent engineering talent on board to ensure safety, and to repair mechanical defects, nothing has transpired to demonstrate that such expert supervision is superfluous. It is true that some non-professional opinions have been given publicity, to the effect that the marine engineer knows nothing about oil engines, and that the ordinary hand before the mast can look after them as well as, and better than, the trained mechanic, but no sensible person will do otherwise than regard such opinions as absurd, and emanating from interested parties. Now, one of the uses of the auxiliary screw is to work a coaster off a lee shore. Supposing that the oil engine broke down just when it was most needed, with no engineering skill available to remedy the defect, would not the passengers and crew be in danger of their lives ? That is the crux of the question, and no saving of paltry expense to ship-owners, should bo allowed weight against possible loss of human life.