Farmers’ picket at N.I. wharves

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32566, 27 March 1971, Page 1

Farmers’ picket at N.I. wharves

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 26. Placard waving—-but peaceful—farmers at Auckland and Mount Maunganui today mounted what are believed to be the first full picket lines by New Zealand farmers.

The pickets in both centres were organised by the Waikato Farmers’ Action Committee, which, during the last year, has made a number of pleas to the Government for measures to alleviate problems in the farming industry’.

The committee demands that the Government increase the price fanners receive for their produce by 25 per cent. It suggests that the money could be found by selling overseas exchange to importers requiring exchange to import goods.

About 40 Waikato and Hauraki Plains farmers gathered outside the railway marshalling yards in Quay Street, Auckland, opposite Kings Wharf, shortly after 7 a.m.

Brandishing placards with messages such as “Farmers must live, too,” “Federated Farmers federated peasants,” and “Backbone needs support,” the farmers attracted considerable attention from early morning workers. It was their intention to stop all trains and trucks carrying farming produce fot export from entering the wharf.

But the threat last week from the chairman of the committee (Mr A. E. Symons) that picketers would stand in the path of trucks was not really needed. Both the Northern Drivers’ Union and the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants decided to support the farmers and respect the picket. “We recognise any legitimate picket line by any legitimate organisation,” said a member of the Drivers’ Union. “This was a legitimate picket by a legitimate organisation.” One truck Before the men took up their line on the wharf, Mr Symons told them: “There must be no rough stuff at all. If he insists on going through, you must let him.” There was only one incident—where a truck carrying farm produce attempted

to move past the picketers on the wharf.

The driver was, apparently, unware of the union support for the farmers. But after checking with the union and his company, the truck was turned round. “Where are your big cars —parked round the corner, I suppose,” yelled one waterfront worker at the growing picket line. Regular checks “If I was driving that truck I would have run the lot of you over.” Another man driving his car along the wharf called out to the farmers as he passed: “You’ve been living off the fruits of the land for bloody long enough. Stop your grizzling.” Police made regular checks on the picketers during the morning. In the afternoon when the farmers split into two groups—one staying in the railway yards and the other moving to Kings Wharf —there was only an occasional call by a uniformed constable.

Inspector R. B. McCarthy, of the Auckland Central Police, said later that he was pleased with the conduct of the picketers. He said that he had laid down “certain guide-lines” and these were adhered to by the farmers. The picket was orderly and presented no problems to the police. Seamen’s march Shortly after 1 p.m. more : than 100 members of the Auckland branch of the Sea- . men’s Union—who were marching in protest at the new wage restraint billmoved on to the wharf and pledged their support to the farmers. “We’re with you all the way,” said one member of the union standing on the back of the truck addressing the combined gathering. "You’ve survived too long on sheer, bloody intestinal fortitude.” ‘Common cause’ Then a farmers’ representative made a number of points which gained rousing cheers, and thanked the union for its support. The sight was most unusual. As one farmer remarked it would be the first time in New Zealand that seamen and farmers had got together “in a common cause—wake the Government up.” About 1.45 p.m. Mr Symonds, the leader of the pickets, called the 80 farmers together and told them: “We have done what we can. It's not much sense hanging on any longer.” After the men had dispersed, Mr Symons told a reporter that he was extremely pleased how things had gone.

Union support “We are indebted to die support we received from the unions. They made our task so much easier. "The police, too, were very

fair. They told us what we could do and what we could not, and that was that.” Mr Symons said he hoped that the picket line showed th. Government “that we are not prepared to put up with this situation any longer.” “There must be an increase in farm incomes,” he said. “The bottom is falling out of the New Zealand farming industry. This decline must be stopped. “To do this, young people have to be enticed into the industry. And if the money is not good enough, they won’t be enticed. ‘Not rebels’ “We wouldn’t be taking this action unless it had become very serious,” he said. “We’re not a bunch of rebels.”

Mr Symons said he hoped that the Government would "come to its senses” soon and introduce measures to ease the farmers’ problems. If this was not done, his committee would meet again in about 10 days and decide on “suitable action.” He could not say what further action the committee might take, but it certainly would not be in the form of “writing letters and talking.’’ It was possible that another picket would be staged, but this time for a longer time.