MINISTERS INTERVENE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 871, 24 November 1916, Page 6

MINISTERS INTERVENE.

THE DRIVERS' DISPUTE. ' GOVERNMENT ACTION PROBABLE }',.,)■• a fipffitl Ccrr/tfor.rltnt. WELLINGTON, November 23. The drivers still hold the stage in Wellington, pushing the Presbyterian i Synod and the Military Service Lists , into the wings. The employers, after sitting silent for several days returnled to their homes yesterday. The | otlicial reply to the complaints about j the award contains an admission that the employers are prepared to consider a war bonus. Nothing de- ! finite has been stated as to the amount, nor have they made any suggestion as to the method by which the war bonus is to be secured to the workers. There has been no meeting between the representatives of the employers and the workers. Members of the Cabinet, however, have met the parties and are endeavouring [to arrange a way out. Those who have particularly interested themselves in the matter are Messrs Herries, Allen, Herdman, and Myers. I They are apparently endeavouring to ascertain the feelings of both parties for the purpose of finding out | how much difference there is be- | tween the two. There has been some suggestion of a 10 per cent, war i bonus, brigning the lower paid men , to £2 17/(5 and the drivers of two ! horses to a little over £3. The men ; appear to be set on a desire for a • minimum of £3 per week. The ques- ! lion of stable time has been pushed i somewhat into the background dur- ] ing the discussion. This has been I an advantage to the men, because the I public mind has only grasped the j essential feature of the dispute. That ! is, the court awarded a minimum of I£2 12/- per week. The otlicial statej ment of the employers deals lengthily with the whole question of the i wages, stable time, and the improve- ; ments obtained uder various awards lof the Arbitration Court. The worki ers' representatives are now issuing their reply. This will probably open ; up a lengthy paper controversy calculated to confuse the main issue. Public feeling seems inclined to be- : lieve that Ministers have asked for , a definite statement from the em- ! plovers at the chief centres, as to ' what they are prepared to concede : by. way of a war bonus. If the con- ; cession can be regarded as reason- \ able the Ministers will probably urge upon the representatives of the drivI ers to accept the offer. If, on the : other hand, the concession is not acceptable it is expected that Cabinet : will Gazette a wage under the War Regulations Act, something after the manner of the regulations fixing the minimum price for food-stuffs. In the meantime the principal newspapers are strongly advocating a settlement, much on the lines suggested by The Sun. The Intrusion of Semple. There is a very strong feeling in the public mind that the drivers have been very badly treated. On the other hand there is entering into the dispute an element which may be likely to hamper the officials in their efforts to retain public sympathy. Last evening the drivers held a meeting at which the representatives reported progress. Messrs Arbuckle, O'Rourke, and Semple. representing the West Coast miners, who are in Wellington in connection with the alleged slowing down policy at the State mines, asked for permission to be heard. Being granted permission to address the meeting. Mr Semple assured the drivers that the miners were with them to a man. The gentleman evidently carried the miners' mind about in his waistcoast pocket to be pulled out and flared up at will like an automatic match-box. The public well know that such an important link in the transport business as the drivers will involve miners and others whether they wish it or not. There is no reason therefore, why all this solidarity noise should be blared into the public ear through a megaphone. Everyone is seized of the seriousness of the position and most people know that industries will he hampered and stopped by a driver's dispute regardless of whether a stoppage is effected by way of a strike or otherwise. The feeling in the city now is that if the employers are not prepared to come to any settlement on the lines of those suggested by the newspapers, the Ministry will save the situation by drawing up such regulations as will end the drivers' difficulty-. JOHN PLOWMAN.