WELLINGTON TOPICS

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14592, 16 February 1921, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS

WATERSIDE DISPUTE. SHIP OWNERS FIRM. (Special Correspondent.) AA’F.LLINOTON. .Monday. The announcement that Hie ship owners had presented an ultimatum I" Hie waterside workers, demanding thcl limy should abandon lh"ir "go slow policy or make room for Hie intrudin'- ; | |.on of a tie I ter system, appears In have been a little premature. II is a fact, however, that Hie owners have determined |n pul an end In (he present llllsa lisfae Inry slate nf a flairs, even if it I involves tying up llieir ships for a tilin' and a eossalinn of work on (he wharves Idle refusal nf a large section of Hie men to work overtime under any conditions whatever is already putting tin; owners to a great, deal of inconvenience and loss, and they could not he in a much worse position if business were suspended altogether. To-morrow is expected to he I lie day nf decision. Tho Cabinet. The report that Mr Downic Stowa.'i is lo he Hie new member of Hie Cahinel, first published in these miles. Pas I iv-ci'lioed from Dunedin, and iias been ived here with general | satisfaction. Mr Stewart's devotion I" (he original Reform Goveriimeni was j rod effusive, as may he Judged from Ids j speech on Hie Address-in-lieply in 191 a; hill since then Mr Massey has moved so far along progressive lines, there would he nothing iuconsislenl in Hie member for Dunedin AA’est accepljng a sea] in his Galiinel. In any casq, his promotion In an oilier in which o--would have a wider scope Ulan he has j as a private member for Hie exercise his clear thinking and ready understanding would be welcomed by all political parlies a> a distinct acquisition to a Minislry that stands hi need of these qualities. Public Service Commission, It is jusl upon ji> years since Sic John Hall, then I’cemiec. relegated lo i I (ammission Hie task of recommending 1 reforms in the Public Service lti.it i would make I’m without imI pairing efficiency. Now Me Massey is | propbsing I" follow Hie example of one | of the most conscientious and capable of his predecessors. The commission i ! (,'■ ISBI, as one might have expected - j from its constitution, suggested drasli • j j in forms throughout the service, hut the | Goveriimeni of llm day had not the in - | cf-ssary courage lo lake them in hand, j and Hie notorious "ten per cent reducI Hon” was Hie expedient by which il j attempted |o save ils face. Mr Massey is not lacking in courage, and probably j [ inis a freer hand than Sir John Hall | I had, but the task lie is contemplating is a stupendous one that may easily i make or mar a groat reputation. Cricket. On Saturday afternoon Wellington | further signalled the revival of ils in- | terest in cricket by attending 10.000 j s.rong at Hie Basin Heserve to witness r 1 the conlinualion of the maleli between He Australian visiting team and Hi; : Wellington representatives. The play i was distinctly disappointing, compare i with Hie displays made by liolh teams [i a (he' opening day, and Wellington j half-holiday makers voted the Alls - j tralians not nearly so formidable as I they had expected HlClll lo lie. Ul’j course, Hie people who know* most j about Hie game always are pi he found j among the onlookers, but after making I allowance for (Ids fact it would seeM > ) licit Hie visitors have a very consider | j able "tail,” and that with a lit lie luck a New Zealand learn possessing more ! 1) wling strength than was available on | j Saturday, and half a dozen enterprising I i talsmen, would give a good account of ! Itself.