LABOUR AND POLITICS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6492, 11 April 1908, Page 9

LABOUR AND POLITICS

THE FARM LABOURERS’ DISPUTE ORGANISING A UNION. (Special to the ‘'N.Z. Times.”) CHRISTCHURCH, April 10. A shaip discussion occurred this morning during the hearing of Mr Wilfred Hall’s evidence in the farm labourers’ dispute before the Conciliatiro B-.ard, The witness under examination hy Jit D Jones, tho employers’ representative, endeavoured to show that the motive underlying the existence of the Farm Labourers’ Union and the present dispute was not a true desire to benefit the worker) but was political. He expressed the opinion that the leaders of the movement did not believe in the Arbitration'and ■Conciliation Act. Ha lad a report of a speech by Mr Thorn in connection with the Blackball strike in which the speaker had expressed Jack of conudenc > in the Arbitration Court. Mr Thorn: What lias this got to do with the matter? I don’t want to discuss the question here at all. _ X am representing tho union in this dispute, and I defy anyone to say that because I disapprove tho Arbitration Court I want to go back to strikes. lam hero on behalf of tho union because the Act is in force and we have to work under it. It doesn’t matter now whether I approve of the hatloss brigade or the Socialist party, or any other fad Mr Hall said that,if Hr Thorn said the Arbitration Court was no use, that surely indicated his opinion as to the efficacy of an award, aud was of value , .

Tho chairman; Mr Thorn’s opinion, will have nothing to do with us

Mr Hall, in reply to Mr Jones, said he wished to say that it: was a wonder if Mr Thorn did not believe in an award of the Court that ho was in the case at all

Mr Thorn said that he had never said ho did not believe in an award. The chairman: That is more to the point. i Mr Jones: Have you any evidence to prove that this union is a political and not a labour organisation f Air Hall: Yes, I have a letter in the “New Zealand Times” written hy Mr Thorn, shelving that this agitation has been got up from political motives. It was written by Sir Thom in his official capacity as secretary ox tho Farm Labourers’ Union, and part of tho last clause reads: “In conclusion let mo say that the Minister of Labour told us some time ago that if we wanted any more progressive legislation we would have to organise the country workers.” The chairman: We do not care what Mr Thorn thinks or says. Mr Thorn: This union was organised three years and a half before Mjr Millar made that, statement. This is no place to discuss politics. Air Hall: Wo havo to prove whether there is .an industrial dispute or not, and this official letter declares in cold print that this is a political organisation for -political purposes. Mr Jones: Its a remarkable thing that we have never been able yet to find a single labourer who, was . present at" the riiootiiig forming the union. Have wo the right to prove that this is a political organisation or not? Mr Thorn has said clearly that it is a political organisation.

Mr Thorn: It is nothing of the kind. The Farmers’ Union is a political body. Mr Jones: That’s a different matter.

The chairman: The Board is perfectly indifferent and will not bother about it.

After further wrangling tho Board decided not to admit the evidence.