WAIKATO FARMERS' NEEDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20229, 13 April 1929, Page 14

WAIKATO FARMERS' NEEDS.

CONFERENCE AT HAMILTON. 1 ARBITRATION AND WAGES. JbY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Friday. ■ Tlio annual conference of the Waikato sub-provincial branches of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, adjourned from March 22, was continued at Hamilton to-day. //Mr. W. Lee Martin, M.P. for Raglan, presided. There was a fair attendance of delegates from the various branches. A motion that the Dairy Produce Board should consist only of members elected by dairy producers was carried. As it was considered that tlio charges *>ri rural telephone lines were too high, a resolution was passed recommending their reduction. The following remit was carried: — "That the basis of awards of the Arbitration Court should lie Die cost of living of a single man, plus allowances for dependants; allowances to lie paid from a fund to be derived from employers by payment per head on all employees who come under the awards." The chairman said tho apparent object thimotion was to alter the whole basis of the payment of wages. In his opinion the remit was hedged about with difficulties and it would need a groat deal of discussion to make the scheme practicable. One of the results would be that single men would tee] they were not leceiving sufficient payment for their work. Mr. r |. Henderson said the object was not to reduce workers' wages but to increase primary production. The remit was then, carried. Tlio following remit was also carried 'Jhat primary producers be allowed to place evidence before the Arbitration Court during the hearing of any dispute having close bearing upor primwry industry." A remit from the Te Awamutu branch, that it considered Ihe time opportune for Ihe establishment of a provincial district, in (lie Waikato, with a full-time secretaryorganiser, was carried. Another remit carried was; "That, in view of the huge and rapidly-growing State and local-body debt, this conference calls upon the Government to immediately set up an impartial commission <;f economic exports lo fully investigate and recommend economies."