TROUBLE AHEAD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7444, 19 May 1911, Page 1

TROUBLE AHEAD

THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY TARANAKI EMPLOYERS AND , WORKERS. THE UNION’S ATTITUDE ■ FEOil OUE OWN COBEESI’ONDENT. PALMERSTON. May IS. i There is trouble, brewing in tho dairy* ing industry in Taranaki. For eome time past negotiations hare been proceeding between the employers and the union. The latter, is a strong body, and, haring cancelled its registration under tho. Arbitration' Act,- is in a position to use extreme measures to enforce its demands. It .was thought that the negotiations would end in a conference and that a basis of agreement might be reached, but on the advice of the New Zealand •Federation of Employers tho Taranaki Dairying and Farming Union, of Employers recently, decided not to meet the men's representatives in conference iriU such time as the workers' union , registered under tho Arbitration Act. , That tho men have no intention, of acceding to this request is evident from tho' following letter which has been despatched by their secretary, Mr J. Robertson, of Palmerston North, to tho'employers May 15th,‘ 1511. , To Mr T. Harry Perfn, Secretary Taranaki Dairying and Farming Inaustrios union of Employers. . Dear Sir,—Yours of May 3rd to hand, conveying the decision ofaho meeting iieid at Stratford'on that dale. Wo think it is greatly to ho regretted that your union, in coming to tins decision, should have, allowed itself to bo guided, as in the past, by an outside organisation, i.c., the New Zealand Employers* Federation. Wo have always held that it was awing to your union being dominated by that body in October,* ’ 1909. that tho very unsatisfactory conditions at present existing in tho industry are in vogue. . ; In again handing over the conduct of the dispuic to tho Federation, - and rc- • fusing'to meet us in friendly conference, wo arc reiuctantly compelled to tho conclusion that your union is hot : desirous of .arriving, at an amicable understanding m regard to the matters ju dispute, but is bout instead upon • crushing .our organisation out .of* ex is- . -teuco.- Against euch tactics wo are compelled i to, adopt measures wwhich /nay seem drastic) in* order'to defend ourselves. • ' Ih the meantime w© wish to point out to you.that any disturbance that may take place iu the industry will bo entirely duo to your union’s refusal to accept the proposal for a conference mode by our union.—l remain, yours faithfully, - V ’-7 JNO; EOBEETSON. ■. * -■ 1 ■ v 6e6rctars. '-.Tfc'will thus bo seen that unless on* side or the other* gives- way a strike of an unusual character is probable. Tho men; aro not:likely; to • go out immediately, :for ' there -would *bo little advantage in such a move during the slack season. There -is .every reason, however, to fear that as soon ~a.s tho factories get into •full ' working -order in tho spring • tho whole of the "industry in ■ Taranaki will be thrown into a state of disorder by the use of the' weapon most' dreaded in industrial - circles. The men's contend that they are justified in taking up their extreme position. Their argument is that the Arbitration Court when asked to make, an award in any particular industry. invariably takes the; existing award as a basis for tho new one it is proposed to make. They declare that no -award will - bo satisfactory.Wliidh iff based on tlio existing one. By rogistcringithe union under the Arbitration Act the employers can compel the men to go to the court, which, is equivalent to forcing <in unsatisiactory award upon the industry, In ' this • aspect of tn© matter they contend that they have the experience of the Wellington Dairy X ? actory Workers Union to guide them. That union went to tho Arbitration Cqurt last year, to point out that the court' in drawing up the 1908 award had been misled by certain evidence put _before’ it* and consequently had ‘blundered. The coifrfc refused* to listen to it, and refused to depart from the basis of the award previously made- .• Tho; Taranaki union oeiievcs. itself to bo -now iu the position _that the Wellington-union was in then, "and-has no reason to expect : any different treatment.