EVILS OF PREFERENCE

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 134, 9 June 1922, Page 10

EVILS OF PREFERENCE

DISCUSSED BY FARMERS

ABOLITION OF PRIVILEGE URGED.

(IT lELIORAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND, Bth June. The Farmers' Union Conference today adopted: a remit, urging the abolition of preference to unionists mover, Mr. S. Hodge, saidi that the advocates of abolition had) no idea of reducing wages below the cost of living, as that would mean a curtailment of purchasing power, and would be injurious to business. Preference had greatly increased' the cost of production, owing to reduced efficiency and increased wages. If it were right that the workers should dictate who should- "be employed, it was logical that they should have the right to dictate how business should be carried on. Men wio did not want to join a union were. compelled) to, and so they took no interest in the union, and the control fell into the hands of extremists Mr.. F. Colbeck advocated the temporary suspension of the Attitration Court, to allow employers and workers to. ge,t .together and make equitable adjustments. The Court was fixing wages on a scale that employera could! not pavi and this was resulting in unemployment. Mr. W. Fnmess said the adoption of the remit would mean open war against unionism. The abolition of preference would mean the destruction of the unions, and would enable men to undersell labour, and force down the standard* of living. The farmer would be the first to suffer, as the consumptive power of the community wouldi be reduced. He declared that the farmers/ were being used by the exploiting interests to smash unionism. ■ Mir. A. A. Roes said that in Canialda and America, where preference did nbt exist, wages were .higher .than iii tfte | Dominion. The output of the workek lin America _in consequence was. hiErbar than in British countries. The'unions were strong enough to get what they desired, without preference. Mr. J.j Stallworthy said one evil of! preference _• was that an employer was .afraid to increase the wages of a goodi worker, as by doing so he supplied grounds for union^ demands for an allround increase. The president (Mr. DuxfieTd) said no exception would be taken to preference if it were used in the right way, andi only efficient men kept in "ithe union. Unions had allowed slackers andi inefficients to rule, with the result that pre'-1 ferenoe was abused and discredited.