FARM LABOURERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 283, 24 August 1908, Page 7

FARM LABOURERS.

THE CANTERBURY DISPDTE. COMMENTS ON THE COURT'S DECISION. UNION'S SECRETARY DISGUSTED. (bt telegram—press association.) Christchurch, August 23. 11l the course of an interview on tho Arbitration Court's judgment in the farm labourers' dispute, Mr. Jas. Thorn, tho permanent secretary of tho Agricultural Labourers' Union, stated that lie could hardly express his disgust with tho finding of- the Court, or his contempt for' tho machinations of tho men who were responsible for it. '

"I consider," he said, "that Judge Sim has allowed himself to be the instrument for filching from the agricultural workers of this country their just and legal rights in a most iniquitous manner."

Ho contrasted the action of the Court in providing an award for the Otago iniisterers, tho Waimate threshers, tho Marlborough harvesters and threshers, and tho Otago agricultural workers, with the refusal to make an award in the present case. He said that, though Parliament gavo the workers certain legal rights, it remained with one man (tho Judgo of tho Arbitration Court) to nullify, not only tho promises of tho Government, but tho definite enactments of the Parliament of the country. Judgo Sim's excuse was that an award in this case "would be difficult of enforcement." That difficulty was 110 concern of the Court. The enforcement of any award might safely be left to tho union concerned. Tho finding as a wholo was simply ono long rc-hash of the farmers' arguments. Tho Court had endeavoured to mako capital out of tho alleged magnitude of the dispute, and stated that 7000 farmers were involved. The 7000 included not only tho individual members of the Slieepowners' Association, but also tho holders of land from ono acre to fifty acres, of whom there were in Canterbury 6225. It was absurd to say that a man owning from ono aero to ten acres (and thero wero 4000 such in Canterbury) were farmors and would bo affected by an award. Tho 16,000 workers alleged to bo involvod in tho dispute included for tho most part tho same 6000 holders of land from ono acre to fifty acres who were conveniently transposed from tho ranks of workers to that of employers for argumentative purposes, and even if 16,000 workers wero involved in the dispute there were far more than 16,000 workers now under tho operation of various awards of tho Court, and about 5000 genuine employers of labour. Despite tho Judge's statement to tho contrary there was dofinit-o evidence to show that dissatisfaction existed long before tho formation of the Union.

"However,"' concluded Mr. Thorn,- "tho breath is by no means out of tho body of my Union. Tho Court's attitudo has been ono of pure funk all tho way through. Wo recogniso that we have to begin tho fight all over again, but we shall be up and doing it within, a very short time. Tho agricultural industry will be in a \tate of continuous turmoil and unrest'until its workers aro granted their just rights and privileges according to tho law of this land. We have appointed a permanent secretary, and organisers will go up and down tho length and breadth of this provinco organising and educating day in and day out."

THE FARMERS' POINT OF VIEW. "UNDESIRABLE TO INTERFERE WITH EXISTING CONDITIONS." (BX TELEGRAPH—rEESS ASSOCIATION.) Christchurch, August 23. Mr. D. Jones, one of .the farmers' advocates during "the' hearing *of ' the' farm labourers' dispute, was seen by a "Star" rer porter yesterday relative to the Arbitration. Court's decision in the farm labourers' case. He said that it was gratifying to the farmers to find that tho Court in its 'judgment had upheld tho contentions that tho farmers had been fighting for all through. Ho wished to say that ho looked on the finding as • a victory as much for the farm workers as for tho farmers. Ho had recognised throughout tho case that- it was in tho interests of all parties to allow things to continue as at present. Mr. Thorn had said that the Judgo's finding was simply a re-hash of his (ilr. Jones's) address, but he regarded that as a high compliment to himself. It proved at any- ' rato,; that the line of argument ho had taken up'had appealed to tho good sense of tho Court, which had practically'given a finding on the lines of his address. Ha believed that the bulk of the farm : workers were as pleased with tho judgment as tho farmers, and he had heard of instances in tho district whero the workers, wlicn the news got abroad, had got on tlioir bicycles and joined their mates to rejoice that they still had their freedom. Tho finding of the Court wis especially gratifying to the farming, community, because it proved that after seven mouths of continual taking of evidence tho Court had decided that the farmers had dealt on tho whole justly with their men, and the recommendations of the Court merely said that tho farmers should go on doing what they were now doing. A great deal-had been made of the fact that it was possible to make an award in tho farming industry, but tho great point to bo considered was not whetnor it was possible, but "whether it was desirable. Tho Court maintained,' as tho farmors had maintained, that it was undesirable to interfero with existing conditions. "It is to be regretted/' said Mr. Jones in conclusion, "that Mr. M'Cullough in his interview has given expression to tho views there stated, and had accused tho Court of being a party to a gross miscarriago of justice. This comes very badly from a man in his position. Ho was one .of the chief , originators of tho dispute, and I fully expected lie would havo had the manliness and good taste to refrain from sitting on what was practically his own offspring thereby making a mockery of justice."

WELL PLEASED. (BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Timaru, August 22. The farmers of this district aro well pleased with the decision of the Arbitration Court on tho farm labourers' dispute. It is denied that there was any disputo, except an artificial one, engineered by city unions' for political purposes. DEMANDS IMPRACTICABLE. MEN WHO HAVE RISEN FROM THE RANKS. CD! TELEGRAPII.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Christchurch, August 22. A "Press" reporter interviewed Mr. Richard Evans, who represented the farmers, with reference to the Court's decision. Mr. Evans said: Tho Union's demaads' meant a tax to the farmers of Canterbury alone to tho oxtent of £8500, and conditions that would almost stop certain kinds of farming. Tho evidenco which had been led by tho farmers was that of men who had risen from tho ranks and who wore less. likely to. he unjust or hard, on men in their employ. Young men of the ago of 25 years wont before tho Court and showed that by care and industry they could savo from £300 to £500. Ho had boon' convinced all through tho tedious 25 weeks of tho conciliation porcecdings that tho bona fide farm hands did not shajo in the agitation, and that they realised tho demands mado were impracticable. "Of tho recommendations mado by tho Court," continued Mr. Evans, "thoro is this to be said. All day labourers, who aro paid Gs. at present, have a house at a low rent or rent , free, with firewood, etc., which is. equal to 7s. a day, and again on tho farm: thoro aro lighter and heavior jobs, and varying crops and prices for produco must rcgulato wages, so that no standard could bo fixed for all hands. Harvest, work is usually paid for at doublo ratos. The Court fixed •50s. a week, but at proscnt tho 20s. a week men in harvest time 405., the 255. men make 505., and the 30s. a week mon mako £3, and tho strong,' quick man who gets £3 gor week is tho uostfor»t&ofa«a..

The half holiday is not quito practicable, considering the amount of broken time duo ts woather. Tho full week's holiday on full wnges ia already in operation." PRESS OPINIONS. COMMON SENSE VINDICATED. (Bt TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL COItIIESFONDENT.I ' Christchurch, August 22. Both papers deal editorially with the 'finding of tho Arbitration Court in tho farm labourers' dispute. Tho "Press" says:— " Tho conclusion arrived at by tho Court that it cannot mako an award is the view which presented itself from the first to every- \ body possessing a modicum of common sense, and having any practical acquaintance with tho conditions under which farming - is carried on. Those who drew up tho demands of tho Farm Labourers' Union knew next to nothing about the practical condition of farming. Thoy had in their mind's eye a farm such as never existed in this world, and is never likely to bo seen, except, perhaps, in a town agitator's dream. In that visionary farm the elements would have to be regulated by statute, so as not to conflict with tho demands of the Union, and the very animals would liavo to bo brought under ailaward. It is no doubt a ground for general satisfaction that tho Court has given a decision which is in accord with the dictates of common sense. It is, however, a serious reflection on the wisdom of our lawm-akers that such a tedious and expensive litigation has been forced on the farmers in order that common sonse might at length bo vindicated. For many months tho farming world has been kept ill a stato of irritation and unrest; and thousands of pounds liavo been spent ' with the only ultimate result of showing that tho farmers ought to havo been left alono in tho first instance."

Regarding Mr. j. A. M'Cullougli's protest, tho "Press" remarks:—"Ho was, of course, quito justified as a member of the Court in dissenting from the judgment if he thought fit to do so, but there can be no , valid oxcuse for his communicating to the papers such an extraordinary attack on his colleagues. When wo remomber that Mr.' • M'Cullough is tho agitator who took tho leading part in forming the Farm Labourers' Union in tho first instance, and that as president of tho Union ho -actually signed the application for the. hearing of the dispute, it is obvious that there was a serious impropriety in liis taking any part at all in tho adjudication of tho case. It is an elementary axiom of law that no man can. bo a judge in his own cause. If, therefore, Mr. M'Cullough had possessed tho judicial iustinct in tho smallest degree ho would havo refrained from sitting in judgment on this ' particular dispute, and would havo suggested that the deputy representative of the workers should take his place. Tho crude, illogical, and semi-hysterical diatribe which ho has > delivered against tho tribunal of which ho is supposed to form a part is fortunately quite unprecedented in our judicial history. If a judge of tho Supremo Court had behaved in. this fashion, Parliament would probably have voted an address for his removal from the Bench."

The "Times" regards the position as an extraordinary one. It says the right to demand an award implies an obligation on the part of tho tribunal to make an award even if it is only a confirmation of existing con- - ditions, but tho Arbitration Court * has declined to take action in regard to tho greatest and most important industry of the province.'" It has apparently been appalled by : tho very magnitude of tho industry. It has contesscd itself impotent to dischargo tho duty for which it was created. It has taken upon itself to linrit the scope of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act in defiance of Parliament. ' .