Evening Post. THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1921. A PASTORAL PARADOX

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 16, 21 July 1921, Page 6

Evening Post. THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1921. A PASTORAL PARADOX

While some farmers »m ativocating the abolition of prefeitjnee to i trade unionists, other farmers are advocating the legislative establishment, of preference to members oi i the Farmers'. Union 'in the matter j of factory treatment and export of I farm products. These two advocacies arc actually discoverable side by side at the same meeting; and sinoe compulsory unionism is in logical key with preference to unionists, it is not astonishing to hear one of the advocates urging that the Government should " pass regulations compelling every man who holds deeds of land to become a member of the Farmers' Union." In substantiation of the above, it may be pointed out that " a,x, a meeting of the Manawatu Sub-Pro-j vincial Executive of the Farmers' Union" held at Palmerston North last Saturday, the President, Mr. Andrew Buchanan, said that "it; would pay to combine and do away with preference to unionists." Later: , One member suggested that an Act should be put through. Parliamrait giving , members of . the Farmers' ' TJniou some I preference over non-members in order to give them bettor facilities for exporting and marketing their produce. Mr. J Buchanan replied that, in view of the fact that they were trying to do away with preference to unionists in the Labour ranks, it was difficult to see how they could ask for the same right for farmers. Nevertheless, " a remit asking for preference to farmers . . . was approved to go out to branches for discussion." If the r,emit is accompanied by another one demanding abolition of preference to unionists, it is to be hoped that the branches will perceive the . humour of the situation. But while one type of farmer apparently fails to see that.what is sauce for the goose is sauce for,,the gander, there are, fortunately, other farmers who can call a spade a spade, whether it is a workers' spade or a capitalist spade. For instance, at a branch meeting of farmers at Kawhata, at which compulsory: farmers' preference and compulsory farmers' unionism were both.on parade, one member observed : Much has been said by the Farmers' Union against Labour, but he ventured the opinion that they had had just as much to contend with in connection with organised Capital as was the case with red-hot Labour. What were meat trusts, shipping companies, and other combines but organised capital? One section of, the community had as much right to I organise as others. The simple fact is that organisation is power, and is as liable to be mis-used as is any other form of power. Capitalist organisations sometimes over-charge, and Labour organisations sometimes under-sup-ply. State-sanctioned preference to unionism can never be taken for granted unless unionism is perfect; and perfection can be claimed in neither case. Therefore it would be a mistake to let any organisation think that it can continue to enjoy preference regardless of its own conduct, and the conduct of its members. In challenging that assumption the farmers are in line with public opinion, but they will have difficulty iii carrying conviction if they try to preach the destruction of Labour preference and the establishment of farmer preference in' the same breath. The "eternal triangle appears to be finding a new expression in Labour ring, shipping ring, and farmer. No doubt every member of the trio has a lively opinion of the other two, but none can be accepted without discount. Half the trouble, perhaps, is due ie a general disability or unwillingness to see ourselves as j others see us.