WELLINGTON NOTES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16218, 24 August 1918, Page 2

WELLINGTON NOTES.

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT CONFERENCE. STATEMENT BY SIR JAMES ALLEN BY TBLEOEAKH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. WELLINGTON, August 23. The arrangement of a conference of the administrative heads of the Defence Department to discuss the report of the commission which reviewed their work has been regarded as incongruous by some critics. When this matter was mentioned to Sir James Allen to-day, he said the heads'had a perfectly proper function in trying to ascertain what suggestions were suitable for adoption. They were not discussing the report in any critical spirit, but. as;departmental experts. They were the-men best able to judge of the practicableness of the commission’s recommendations. _ The conference is now in progress, and is expected to last several days. THE COAL CRISIS. The coal mine crisis remains serious, and there is a possibility of other mines than those already idle stopping work before the negotiations are concluded in AVellington. It is estimated that already at least 1000 men are idle, and the effect upon the general shortage of coal must soon become apparent. * ' The idea of setting up a Royal Commission to settle the dispute has been widely discussed, and, it is believed, the Miners’ Federation will agree to this, providing the order of reference is wide enough. As yet there_ is no indication how the owners will view the proposed commission, but they are said to have in mind the precedent that will be established. It is generally believed by those not directly interested in the dispute that the appointment of a Royal Commission would establish a very important precedent in the settlement of industrial disputes, since it would open up the question of real wages and the changes in the value of money as applied to Arbitration awards and agreements. So far it is understood the Government has not exerted any pressure on either side.