THE SHIPPING DISPUTE

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14598, 23 February 1921, Page 6

THE SHIPPING DISPUTE

TROUBLE ON THE WATERFRONT. NO CHANGE IN THE POSITION. CASE FOR THE THIRD PARTY, (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON,' .Monday. No change in the situation on the waterfront lias taken place during the week-end, except, of course, Lhal Hie passage of lime inevitably has brought the day of settlement or of open rupture so much nearer. The shipowners stem prepared lo io ik alter Ineir own interests at every point, and from Ihis fact the walersiders are arguing lhal the employers are the aggressors, ami that Hie unhappy workers again are the victims of a "capitalistic conspiracy." But their logic (iocs not hold good. The owners undoubtedly are better prepared than the walersiders are, but the real slre'ngtl of their position lies in their reliance upon Ihe existing agrcemeni between the parties. In this country. ; ' any rate, public opinion is the mam factor in determining llie outcome of a strike, and in this ease the great bulk of public opinion is with the party that stands for democratic constitutionalism and Ihe observance of agreements, The Welfare League has heen putting the case for the public in the present turmoil very zealously and very sanely, saying things that the local newspapers and the local politicians have failed to say, and saying them in a way to attract attention. Us main point is thai both the shipowners and the walersiders, having failed to take either an economic or a patriotic view of Ihe situation. Parliament should step in and see that the public is given adequate representation upon every b"dv devoted to the settlement of industrial disputes. Thai the League will obtain a favourable hearing from either the Government or organised Labour appears improbable, but its idea already has made , n impression upon Ihinking people who realise thai under Ihe existing arrangement ihe great third party, Ihe public, receives only the most perfunctory consideration from the o||]er two parlies. Mr Masscy claims, as his predecessors did, lhal the. Government is Ihe represenlalivo of the public, hut, unfortunately. Governments in malters of litis sori are never free from the reproach of partiality.