GOVERNMENT AND FARMERS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21707, 14 February 1936, Page 14

GOVERNMENT AND FARMERS

EMPLOYMENT OF LABOUR DISCUSSED MB W. J- POLSON EXPLAINS PRESENT POSITION

(PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON. February 13. The Fanners’ Union executive met to-day and went into committee to discuss the Government’s labour policy as affecting farmers. The president (Mr W, J. Poison) explained that there had been a meeting of the committee with the Minister for Labour (the Hon. H, T. Armstrong) and the Unemployment Board to discuss matters affecting the Farmers’ Union, unemployment, and how the union could assist the new Government in dealing with debatable questions. The-meeting had been most friendly. “We found the Minister anxious to consult us and to hear our point of view on those questions, but, of course, as you must be aware, the new Government has very definite principles about labour, and is very anxious to. put those principles into operation. It, is clearly anxious to do that with the least amount of dislocation and with a desire to meet the farming community as far as it is possible to do so,” Mr Poison said. He had promised to bring the matter before the union in order to come to a definite understanding before going to the Government again; The Government was agreeable to give the union as much time as was required to formulate its ideas. Mr Poison emphasised the need for frank discussion and suggested going into committee. The result of the deliberations will tie communicated to the newspapers.