THE MAN WHO PAYS THE PIPER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1232, 14 September 1911, Page 5

THE MAN WHO PAYS THE PIPER.

THE FARMER'S POINT OP VIEW. (Dy TelcgraDh.-Special Correspondent.) Auckland, September 13. An aspect of conciliatory ndjustmont of labour disputes which is perhaps apt to bo overlooked has been drawn attention to by Mr. \. Schmidt (secretary of the Auckland branch of the Farmers' Union) -that is the "third.party." The application of the question and the particular case to which he refers is the effect upon tho farmer of the recent settlement 01 the brick and clay workers' dispute. In tho 5-ettlement arrived at, he sta-ted to a reporter, it is clear that the Farmer received no consideration at all, or, at all events, very little. Last year it was aryned that the making of field tiles did not pay, and tho price, was raised, so as to, allow a fair margin of profit. To that no one had objected, but if only ft fair margin was allowed then it was obvious that to increase the wages in tho trade by about 12V peT cent, would necessitate a further rise in the' price of tiles, thongh it might seem like crying out before they were hurt, tho riso 'was sure to come. Tile draining was, and would continue to bo very important up-to-date farming, since tho high prices of land made it essential to use the most up-to-date methods to obtain good returns from cultivation, so that the demand for tiles shonld normally increase. But draining already cost £5, to j£l,o. : per aero, and the farmers were not likely to take kindly to an extra 4s. or ss. per 1000 imposod to meet the inafeascd wages. The employers had acted generously, but could not realise the position .fully. They could pass on tho extra cost'to tho farmer who used the tiles; but the farmer had not that privilege, and had to pay up and look, pleasant. Mr. Schmidt said ho hoped his remarks would suggest to pomeone that the consumer should have consideration in the making of awards, being at last the one who had to "pay the piper." The farmer, for instance, had to pay for his tiles, but he could not demand more per lb. for hie butter-fat.