FARMERS’ UNION HEADS

Grey River Argus, 9 May 1936, Page 8

FARMERS’ UNION HEADS

Against Arbitration THE SLAVE-DRIVER’S PHILOSOPHY. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May S. The attitude of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union toward the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, IH3G, was made ciC'aat a meeting of the New Zealand Executive to-day. Following is the definition by tho Executive of the attitude of faim ers; “Th e . Farmers’ Union maintains that compulsory arbitration is not conducive ’to industrial efficiency, but that it tends to build up n mass of restrictive detail, which, greatly increases costs of production, without really benefiting the workers. Increases arc- passed on by secondary industries. Unsheltered' industries, such as farming, have no means or passing them on, and consequently must bear the- whole burden, particularly as the Court is instructed to fix wages on the bnsis of the cost of iv ing regardless of the value of Labour to a particular industry. The chief objection of tho Farmers’ Union to the Bill is that it. will have the effect of increasing costs, and accentuating difficulties of the farming community, which cannot pass those increased costs on; and it might bo said that guaranteed prices would enable increased costs to be met. but if guaian teed prices arc to be continually increased to meet continually increasing costs, due to continual raising of wages to meet all increased cost ot living incident to the operation of this policy, the position will soon become so unreal as to threaten ■financial stability. Objection is taken to the 40 hour week proposal, because it is felt it will mean further increasing an urban drift. The farming industry will have to Qoinpeto for Labour with Public Works; and other industries, holding out the five-da} week, will have a greater appeal to workers than the farmers can. ever hope to offer, governed as they are bv the facts that animals eat, produce milk, and require attention for seven days a week; and that crops must, be gathered whet) ready or lost. The basis of awards should be dependent upon the ability of industry to bear them, and the piecework system is strongly supported by the Union as it is considered that such a method of payment tends to increase production, and lower costs. With regard to third purtv representation beioie the Arbitration Court, the Union takes up the attitude thal parties substantially concerned, even if not directly so. in anv dispute before the Court, should have the right to appear and lead evidence so that the full appl'oa cation of any award e.ould be viO'vei when an award is made. Farmers have a very substantial interest, indeed. ill disputes refuting to freezing works’ employees, threshing mill workers, etc., and. having to P«y tho piper they contend that they shoul have some say. ami should be given a statutory right to mak-c representations to the Court. In other cases the Court should have the right to decide what parties claiming a hearing should be deemed to have a substantial interest in a dispute. Attent ’ ol J is drawn to a provision m tho But .riving the Union officials power of inspection. It is a dangerous expedient to confer on private persons not in any way under Government control such powers, and we consider it a very objectionable feature. ”