INDUSTRIAL LAW

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 128, 1 June 1936, Page 10

INDUSTRIAL LAW

POWER OF UNIONISM

MR. W. J. POLSON'S CRITICiSM

The Government's policy was vigorously attacked by Mr. W. J. Poison, M.P., Dominion president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, at the South Taranaki provincial conference at Hawera. The "Wanganui Herald" reports that Mr. Poison, referring to the power of unionism, said: "We have today an industrial law which extends to every class of industry. Under the legislation now being passed or already passed, there is a junta of trade union secretaries with powers as strong as the Russian Comintern. You will work, you will pay, you will live just as they say. They have the right to strike levies greater than the previous rate of Is a week, and it is considered that they will easily raise a year to cement the power they will liave." Fifteen workers and five employers could draw up an award applicable to the whole of the Dominion, said Mr. Poison. The principles of justice and fair play had been violated in that the penalties for breaches of the award by employers were severe, while there were a number of loopholes through which employees could escape. MARKETING LEGISLATION. "The Marketing Act provides for the Government taking over control of the produce of the dairy farmer, and it is the intention of the Government to take control of other products," said Mr. Poison. He had attended some of the largest gatherings of farmers held in the North Island during the past fortnight. He had not believed that the farmers could be so united as they were in their opposition to the present legislation. The "noise that had been kicked up" had caused Mr. Savage to change his tactics; he had stated that there was no intention to extend the legislation to wool and meat. "He said I was talking humbug, but this is the policy of Labour, which Mr. Nash outlined and Mr. Savage O.K.ed," said Mr. Poison, quoting from literature to show that butter, cheese, wool, and meat were included in the original proposals. Mr. Langstone had stated even more definitely that control would be extended to all forms of primary produce. The Government claimed to have a mandate to apply control to dairy produce, if not anything else. What the Labour Party did was to pledge that on assuming office it. would complete an agreement with representatives of the primary producers and pay a guaranteed price. What the country voted for was that the Government should pay a price agreed upon by representatives of the producers. Who could suggest that that had been done?