FARMERS AND ARBITRATION

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 148, 21 June 1912, Page 6

FARMERS AND ARBITRATION

REPRESEHTATTOX WAHTED. FOR THE GENERAL. PUBLIC. An interesting discussion took place at a meeting of the provincial executive of the Auckland (Farmers' Union yesterday, concerning the need for the public generally, and fanners rparticularly, having some say in awards made under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The question was introduced by Mr.' Joseph Flanagan, in the form of a proposition : "That as fanners are the worst sufferers by awards of the Arbitration Court in the case of such trades as carpentering, plumbing, bricklaying, painting, and allied trades, the Farmers' Union executive should take steps to be represented at the Arbitration Court when disputes in any of these trades are under consideration." Mr. Flanagan said that under the present system, awards were given without any reference being maaie at all to those who were moet concerned, the using and consuming public. As a specific instance, Mr. Flanagan quoted his own recent experience, when, finding , it necessary to employ a tradesman, he had to pay him £i per day. In the speaker's younger days he had been a carpenter, and had been glad enough to jret werl' a* 5/ or 6/ per day. Mr. A. Rehmitt, in eec-onding the motion, fiaid that in oH/iition to the question of justness to the wage-earner, they had also to consider the question of fairness to the genera] public. Under the present system the woTknra asked far higher wages, the employers agreed, and the public paid the piper. Under the circumstances it was only fair to contend that they should be represented when such issues <were being , discussed. As one indication of how the fanner suffered, Mr. Schmitt referred to the recent agreement between makers of field tiles and their employees. The employees asked for an increase and got it, and the farmers straightway found that the increase was going to come out of their pockets, ibecause they had to pay more for their tiles. i9o it was all tho way through under the prisent system, and it was quite time that the users had a voice in the proceedings. Other members of the executive, including Messrs. Jirdd, Bowler, and Makgill. opposed the motion on the ground that hitherto the farmers had held themselves aloof from the Arbitration Court, ana they considered that it would he unwise for -the union to 'bring itself in any way within the ecope of the Act. ■Mr. Flanagan, in reply, contended that thry could not afford to remain outside. All the •lime the farmers were being made to stand tho racket; the effect of almost overy award reached them, and it was time they moved to protect themselves. tMx. .las. Boddie suggested as an amendment that .the resolution should read co as to apply to "farmers and other users." That would bring in all who were concerned. CMr. •Fla.nagan agreed to the suggestion, and the motion was accordingly carried with that amendment. >Ir. Magill suggested that in view of •the unsatisfactory working of the Arbitration Court, the Farmere'* Union should invite discussion wijh a view to ensuring , a -more equita-ble working of the Act for all sections of the conununitv. but nothing definite -ktis decided upon by the meeting in this direction.