WELLINGTON TOPICS

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14601, 28 February 1921, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE WATERSIDE LOCK-OUT. THE EMPLOYERS' INITIATIVE. (Special Correspondent^ WELLINGTON, Friday. The trouble on the water-front is presenting a phase of industrial strife with which the New Zealand public is not faniihar. In this country it is thq custom to describe every trial ol strength between Capital and Labour, involving a cessation of work, as a strike. This is because in nineteen cases out of twenty the workers take the initiative, and place the employers on the defensive. But in the present case the positions are reversed. The men have not declined to work, but the shipowners have refused to give them emplovment, unless they furnish guarantees'to conform to certain conditions. This constitutes a lock-out, differing from a strike in the important particular that Capital has the advantage and the responsibility of the first blow. A lock-out usually marks the stage at which the employers will no longer tolerate the methods of the workers, x and wish to enforce their own demands. The "Diggers' " Appeal.

The appeal addressed to the Wellington waterside workers by the returned soldiers engaged in fruit-grow, ing in the Motueka district reflects the general misapprehension throughout the community as to the existing situation. "Don't let the old diggers down," the owners of the fruit awaiting shipment telegraphed. "Play I tie fame." Of course, [lie message gave the very alert secretary of the Waterside Workers' Federation his opportunity. "We are not letting the Diggers down," he replied in effect. "Prepared to load your fruit, on any vessel required, but employers will not engage watersiders to handle your produce." As a matter of fact the employers had anticipated Hie . appeal would be transferred to them, and they engaged the labour required lo load the apples without waiting for a direct request. Soldier Settlement.

At, Die week-end meeting of th f ' Dominion Executive of the Returned Soldiers' Association some very sweeping statements were made concerning the suitability of certain properties that had been acquired jy the Government for soldier settlement. One member of the Executive declared that an estate of some 10,000 acres purchased at £8 an acre, and loaded with the cost of sub-division and roading, was proving not worth £i an acre, and was ruining the nica who had taken it up. Another described the quality of the land comprising another big estate as so poor tint Hie grasshoppers on the place were committing suicide, lo save themselves from starvation. As a rtsult of these representations and others to the same effect a special committee, witii authority to confer with financial and commercial experts, was set up to inquire into the position and prospects of flie soldier's on Hie land. Tne Minister in Roply. In the course of an interview to-day the Hon. D. 11. Guthrie, tlie Minister of Lands, said he would be very glad t" giv e the committee appointed by the Soldiers' Association every possible facility for investigating lhe results of the Government's efforts to plr.ee returned men on the land. He claimed that in the vast majority of eases the men had been given an exceptionally pood opportunity to re-establish themselves in civilian life, and were turning It- to excellent, account. Some, or course, had not done so well as ofher<, and a few had failed, as was inevitable in such undertakings. But the Government's purpose was to make the way of the soldier on the land as smooth a.s it could be made with justice to the rest, of the community, and he certainly would not be allowed to suffer for the Government's mistakes — tf there had been mistakes.