ARBITRATION ACT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 March 1928, Page 5

ARBITRATION ACT

CASE , FOR FARMERS. amendments suggested. at INDUSTRIAL (INFERENCE. [BY telegraph—press association.] WELLINGTON, March 29. _ Suggested amendments to the Arbitration Act, submitted to the industrial conference to-day by Mr.* W. J - Poison on behalf of the New Zealand Fanners’ Union, were, that the penalty for a. breach of the “preference to- unionists ’ clause should be made more effective; that third parties substantially interested in any dispute, e.g., primary producers in the freezing industry dispute of two years ago, should be given the right to appear before the court; .that in making an award the ability of the industry concerned to bear it should be taken into consideration; that where possible the principle of piecework should be adopted; and that farmers and those engaged in related occupations, e.g., freezing companies, which are in the main subject to prices that are realised on the world’s markets, should -receive exemption from arbitration court awards. “The essence of the union’s contention,” said Mr. Poison, discussing the farmers’ position, “is that farming is vital to national prosperity, is quite -unsuited to standardised schedule methods of working, is dependent on the weather, is indefinitely varied as . to crops, processes, soil, locality, transport and markets, is dependent on a market which iq situated abroad, where costs cannot be passed on, is in.a difficult - and precarious condition at the present time, and is now less able to bear harassing restrictions than at any time in the Dominionls history, and is also unable to pass on additional costs occasioned by the interferences of the Arbitration Court.”

The opinion was expressed that the court should consist of three judges of the Supreme Court. v During discussion on the papers read by the professors of economics, Professor Belshaw replied to criticism of his statement as to the number of land transfers. He contended that the.official figures showed he had been conservative rather than extravagant. One speaker expressed the opinion that Professor Belshaw’s was the most constructive document the conference had yet had before it. Professor Tasker, replying to numerous questions, said a number of small but very definite stipulations of the court undoubtedly hampered management. For three years before the present phase of unemployment, statistics showed that the number of immigrants had decreased. Immigration alone was not the cause of unemployment. Complete agreement was reached by the conference on Tuesday on the question of electing a' chairman, the recommendation of the special committee that Mr. A. D. Thompson, formerly an assistant Public Service Commissioner, be. appointed, being adopted unanimously. v" -