FARMERS AROUSED

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 3 October 1925, Page 9

FARMERS AROUSED

OVER SHIPPING TROUBLE. ORGANISATION SET UP SUPPORT FOR GOVERNMENT. With about £4,500,000 worth of dairy produce held up, and the monthly pay-outs of companies threatened, representatives of daii-y factories and dther business interests met in the A. and P. Association’s board room at Ha\yera to-day to discuss the serious position which has arisen in connection with the present shipping trouble. The meeting, which was convened by the Federation of Taranaki Co-opera-tive Dairy Companies, was attended by about 70 dairy factory representatives and business men, Mr T. A. Winks presiding. Practically every dairy, company in South Taranaki was represented. After a short discussion a resolution supporting the Government in its efforts to effect a settlement of the strike, and, in the event of no settlement being reached, undertaking to organise this district in support, of whatever action the Government considered necessary, was carried unanimously. It was also decided to set up an organising committee. The chairman said that the Federation had thought it wise to call the meeting as the trouble had been going on for about six weeks. At the present. time there was about £5,000,000 worth of produce held up, and about 40,000 tons of inward cargo had to be unshipped. The whole of the living of the farmers in Taranaki was involved, as it meant the shutting off of pay-outs on the 20th of each month. He thought that next week they would get a requisition from the Government asking for assistance, so it was necessary that they should organise- so that they could proceed to Wellington and assist in the loading of their produce. In 1913 farmers had even filled the places of stokers, and he was perfectly satisfied that they could now fill all necessary positions if the sailors would not come to their senses. The farmers also intended to see that the shipping companies also did their part. The Prime Minister had been firm, and he was satisfied they would have all the support the Government could give them. 8 Mr Winks then moved the following resolution:

“That this meeting of representatives of federated dairy companies, business interests, and the dairy industry generally, supports the Government in its efforts to effect a settlement of the seamen’s .strike, and in the event of no settlement being reached undertakes to organise this district in support of whatever action the Government considers necessary to enable ’ shipment of produce and the ordinary trade of the Dominion to be resumed.”

The chairman read the following letter from the National Dairy Association: “Your executive have been watching events very closely and have to report that they have, interviewed the authorities with a view to gaining some information in connection with the strike. Your executive are of the. opinion that each district should organise and be in readiness to send men down to either discharge or load cargo, and probably to man the steamers. It is fully expected that •something important will happen with, in the next day or two, and we will keep factories well posted with the position.

Mr J. B. Corrigan, M.P., in seconding, said that the position was- very acute and was affecting all branches of business throughout the Dominion. In his opinion he felt that the trouble was the work of ah organisation in evidence all over he world —he meant the Communists, who had picked on New Zealand and Australia as the weakest spots. He- stressed the necessity of overcoming the trouble without antagonising other unions. He. felt sure that if the matter was not settled the struggle would be a hitter one, hut he had hopes of reassuring news from the Old Country in a few days. It was a case of whether Constitutionalism or Communism was going to rule the- world. Mr E. Dixon said he did not think the time had arrived yet when the gloves should be taken off. They should be careful not to rouse an, antagonistic spirit. The chairman thought that the time had arrived when they should come out in the open and give the Press unrestricted right of action. Mr J. B. Murdoch spoke strongly in support of the resolution. Mr. J. R. Corrigan '.suggested a vote on the question of whether or not the resolution, moved by the chairman, should he published on not. It was in the form of an ultimatum. The chairman moved that the proceedings he open to the press.—The motion was seconded and carried. Mr. G. Hurrell pointed out that if they loaded the ships here the cargo would he “black” when it arrived Home, and the vessels would lie idle with the produce on board. The chairman is aid they would risk that. There were plenty of unemployed in England that would soon become “white.” Mr. O. J. Haw-ken,- M.P., said that it was the duty of the dairy farmers to see that their produce was loaded and sent to the market. It was also their duty as citizens to- see that the agreements, such as those arrived at by the Maritime Board, should he carried into effect. By constitutional means such a board was .set up and then the seamen turned against it, A strike that defied the community could not succeed. If the dairy produce were held up for another fortnight it was going tobe a very serious matter for the dairy farmers of New Zealand.

Mr. H. S-. Dickie said that the fact that they had so much cold storage space in New Zealand had lulled people into a sense of false security. When the trouble commenced it had been thought that all would he well in a fortnight, hut after five weeks it was no 'better. They knew that the strike was a very cheap one for the labour union to conduct, but it wias serious for tlie farmers, who had £4,500,000 worth of produce held up. They had to do something. Mr. F. Litchwark said they should keep quiet until they were properly organised, and then they would have a much better chance of countering any action -the seamen might take. There were railway men to ibe considered too. Mr. Corrigan : The railwaymen nil! he all right! Mr. A. Campbell contended that the more publicity that was given the matter the more was the fear that would he put into' the enemy. He was in favour of “going” for it tooth and nail.'’

The motion moved by the chairman and seconded by Mr. J, R|. Corrigan,

M.P., was then put and carried .unanimously. On the motion of Messrs. Cocker and Tarrant it was unanimously decided to set up an organising committee consisting of representatives from each dairy factory, representatives from chambers of commerce and other organisations, such committee to have powt r to add to its numbers. Oil the motion of Messrs S. C. Tonics and J. S. McKay it was left to the executive of the Federation to attend to the calling of the meetings.

FOREIGNERS BENEFIT. A BRISBANE INSTANCE. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT Received Oat. 3, 12.15 p.m. BRISBANE!, Oct. 3. Owing to .the hold-up of British ships, foreign vessels are reaping a harvest of freight. Dutch, Norwegian and French steamers are loading cm - goes of wool, hides, and skins, valued iu the aggregate at' £90,000, OR VI ETO’S CREW. WILL REMAIN LOYAL. SHIP: TO SAIL ON TIME. Received Oet-. 3, 12.15 p.m. SYDNEY, Oct, 3. The crew cf the Oivieto held a meeting .at sea. between Melbourne and Sydney and decided to remain loyal to the articles. The- crew consists of 326 men. Only nine firemen joined the strikers at Melbourne. It is expected the vessel will sail for England on schedule date. She will be the first Orient vessel to do so for some weeks.

SUPPORT OF FARMERS’ UNION. TELEGRAM TO PRIME 1 MINISTER. Ait a meeting of the South Taranaki Farmers’ Union this morning the matter of ’the strike was briefly discussed, and it was resolved to send a telegram assuring support to the Prime -Minister in any action the Government may take in reference to manning and dispatching of ships. The telegram sent was as follows: —“Referring to unsatisfactory state of shipping, South Taranaki Executive Farmers’ Union requests Government .take immediate action to man and dispatch ships affected by strike. Plenty free labour should be available, provided return to New Zealand port assured without cost io men.” —E. K. Cameron, Provincial Secretary. It was .also decided to rail a.special meeting to thoroughly discuss the position. from every point of view. The date will probably be Wednesday, but that question was left to the secretary to arrange after receiving further advice from Wellington. A suggestion was made by Air. Betas that a combined meeting of all local bodies should be held, but it was agreed that for the present a promising support from each body would carry more weight. THE MARITIME BOARD. REPLY TO NEW ZEALAND STATEMENTS.

Deceived O.tat. 3, 1.20 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 3. Replying to statements made by Labout members in the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Shipping Federation .states firstly that over ninety per cent of the .seamen were represented on the Maritime Board. .The only withdrawal in 1921 was a small sc-tion of stewards, owing to internecine quarrels. Most of these lejoined through Mr. Havelock Wilson's union. Their president, Joseph Cooper, is now organiser for Mr. Wilson. The membership of the National Maritime Board, consists of organisations who appoint their representatives annually. Mr. Wilson, is appointed in that way. Mr. Wilson’s union remains a member of the hoard and is represented bv its principal officials from the principal pouts. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. IMPORTANT CONFERENCE CALLED FOR MONDAY. (By Telegram—Special to Star.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 3. It is understood that an important conference, in which seamen, shipowners and Government representative* will participate, takes place here on Monday. An unofficial call for labour to man the Arawa, on the voyage home at Maritime Board rates and third-class passages hack to New Zealand caused a ismall, crowd of applicants to assemble to-day a.t the company’s office. lney were not required. MORE SEAMEN FINED. Four seamen from the steamer Devon were fined 10s and costs and ordered to return to the ship. O'ne of them said . “We will not go to sea for £9 10s a month.” A HAWKE'S BAY RESOLUTION. HASTINGS. Oct. 3. The Hawke’s Bay executive of the Fanners’ Union «sent the following Riio to the Prime Minister this morning: “Strongly urge Government to take immediate steps to have the ships . manned and despatched.”