FARMERS' UNION AND LABOUR TROUBLES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 71, 23 March 1912, Page 11

FARMERS' UNION AND LABOUR TROUBLES.

» POSITION MADE CLEAR BY PRESIDENT THY. TELEGBAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] - AUCKLAND, 22nd March. The president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union of the province of Auckland writes to the ' press in regard -to the attitude of the Union in connection with the labour deadlock. The letter contains, inter alia, the following: — "The executive of the Farmers' Union at its quarterly meeting held yesterday gave some consideration to the question of 'strikes generally, and in particular to, the current'rumbur that officials controlling the Federation of Labour contemplate a general or combined' strike of all unions, or workers controlled by them. The views of. farmers generally on thk important subject, and the action decided upon ><by the executive of this union having been very shortly and im-J perfectly reported, it lias been deemed advisable that I, as president, should state clearly the position we take in such a dispute, and the means by which we propose to safeguard our own interests. Any general strike of workers must necessarily affect every section of the community, whether they are con» cerned'in the matter immediately in dispute or not, with the possible consequence of raising strong opposition to the strikers from a large section of the community who othei-wise are inclined to be friendly, or at any rate have no wish to be drawn into -the quarrel: The relation that town or trading interests bear to country -or Janning interests is important in -this connection, seeing that the town workers who 1 propose striking have no complaint against the farmers, and the 'farmers have no' quarrel with the town workers, but a. general strike of city workers . would, at once disorganise the whole/ business of the farming community. • Perhaps some energetic members of the Labour' Council would say all the better, because it shows outpower and helps to ensure us victory in the dispute.- Both the trading ana labouring classes of 'the towns are, however,, .too apt to exaggerate their own importance m relation to the. whole Dominion, and should bear in mind that nine-tenths of the whole subsistence of the community comes from, and is produced by, workers on the land; that the towns and their inhabitants are absolutely dependent upon the country, not the country or its workers upon the town people, for certainly, f&rniers could live without the towns, but the towns cannot possibly live or exist a month if cut of! from the country and the farmers' products.. The farmers, however, are not only raising food for themselves and to supply the town dwellers, but have established a large export and import trade with other countries, which, by the way, is the main source- of living gained, by town workers and traders. Now, this profit-able business of the farmers would at once be jeopardised by a strike, and hence tho need of a clear understanding between them and the > Federation' of Labour. I repeat again, the Farmers' Union has at present no quarrel with you, and ''wishes none. Do us, the farmers, no injury, and we will do you no wrong, but if you endeavour to damage our trade, hindering the transport of our produce, and impeding'import of manures, implements, etc., then in Belf-defence we, must go dead against you, and I. may as well say straight out that the farming community" will not allow " anybody to interfere with or destroy their business, and are quite prepared to assemble a sufficient number of , stalwart young farmers, not only to, secure, the handling and transport of their goods, but to maintain law and order in the city while doing' so. The farmer is a very peaceloving 'person if you don't injure his farm, but if you do he is strong enough to command the situation.— l am, etc., D. H. Lusk, president New Zealand Farmers' Union.