WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16037, 30 January 1920, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE MININA DISPUTE.

SHORTAGE OF COAL,

(From Our Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 28.

The publication of the correspondence which lias passed, between the Coal Min© Owners’ Association and the Miners’ Federation has set people speculating again concerning the big industrial trouble the pessimists have been predicting for months past. Unhappily, the correspondence suggests no easy way out of tiie deadlock in which the owners and the miners are involved. Both parties profess to be anxious for another conference, and both, no doubt, are sincere up to a certain point, but they are as far apart as ever in respect to the constitution of the conference and its methods of procedure. *The owners wish to have nothing to do with the Alliance of Labour, which they regard as a disturbing element and the very antithesis of conciliation, while the men refuse to move without the recognition of this body.

APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT. The City Council last, night, moved by tine menace of the real shortage, wiiicn would very seriously interfere with the trams and other essential municipal services, resob<xi to ask the Government to take immediate action to "terminate the present intolerable position” and to show both parties "the interests of the community must bo .paramount,” Of course this all is very lino and large, and it would be a great relief to the community if Mr Massey and his colleagues could terminate the present ■tension by a wave of ike Ministerial wand. But the trouble is accentuated by the fact that a considerable number of men have left tho mines and taken to other employment. These cannot bo ordered back, and some months would elapse before their places could be filled by efficient hands.

WATCHING DEVELOPMENTS. TTio Prime Minister is watching the position carefully, and will bo prepared to act with promptitude and decision should the necessity arise. It has been represented to him that as Minister of Railways lie shoidd be exercising further economies by cutting down the train services and so releasing further supplies of fuel for private use. But just now the railways are in the midst of their busiest season, and very grave loss and serious inconvenience would bo inflicted upon the community if the services were reduced during the next throe or four months. This may bo necessary in spite of all the efforts of the authorities, but the railways, being among the most essential industries of the country, must be kept running in the general interests as long as the conditions will allow.

THE OUTLOOK. The man in the street is the onJv person who talks freely of the fuel and transit troubles that are threatening. Ministers and minor politicians, mine owners and miners, even shippers and waterside workers remain strangely reticent. There is, however, a very uncomfortable feeling abroad. Though the differences between Capital and Labour are not very well defined, there is an atmosphere of unrest pervading all their relations. The men complain chiefly of the cost of living being far ahead of the increase :n their wages, and of a lack of sympathy on the part of the employers and the Government with their efforts to improve their position. But it still is safe to say the rank ami file of the workers have no desire for industrial strife. If it comes it will not be of their seeking.