RURAL WORKERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9900, 20 February 1918, Page 5

RURAL WORKERS

DOMINION AND COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS.

(Mr C. Grayndler, secretary of tho Agricultural and Pastoral Union of Workers, has returned from a visit to Australia, where ho was attending tho Convention of tho Australian .Workers’ Union. .Asked by a “Times” reporter if ho could say' anything in regard to his mission, Mr Grayndler replied that, following on the recent decision of hia union to amalgamate with tho Australian body, it had been decided by the convention to form a branch of tho A.W.U. in Now Zealand. Legal advice was being taken in regard to the constitution to bo adopted, further than that ho could say nothing at present, but was confident that the result of the recent move would mark a. now era in the industrial development of Now Zealand. “Can you say whether tho general policy of tho A.W.U. will bo carried out an New Zealand ?” Mr Grayndler was asked. “The policy of the A.W.U. in Now Zealand provides for political as well as industrial action, hut owing to tho fact that tho A.P.U. is registered as a trade union, and politically Labour is ns yet only in Its infancy, it may be regarded as a practical certainty that the New Zealand branch will confine its efforts to its consolidation a-s a strong industrial union, and will take no part in politics as a union. “I. notice that in my absence the Farmers’ Union has been concerning itself as to the linking up of tho rural workers of the Dominion with their fefllow-workors of Australia. It was hardly to ho expected that any movement designed to benefit tho rural workers would meet with the approval of that body, although ono would suppose that people who are always claiming to do all that is possible to improve the relations between tho workers and their employers would welcome any improvement in the status of these workers, which is certain to ho for the benefit of all concerned in rural industries. The Farmers’ Union _ should realise that the workers are entitled to share in the higher price* of produce now being enjoyed and that good -wages and conditions make for efficiency and consequently result beneficially toi tho whole community.”

Speaking generally as to the industrial movement in the Commonwealth, Mr Grayndler said _ that owing to the intense dissatisfaction with political events, there was a tendency to introduce new political policies. At present, however, matters were somewhat uncertain, but tho trend of events was in tho direction of a greater control over the political side cf the movement by the industrialists. Politicians -were suspect, and regarded with disfavour.