FARMERS UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14002, 7 September 1907, Page 15

FARMERS UNION

Agricultural labour and , ARBITRATION. .A special meeting of (ho Otago Provincial Exctjutivo of tlio Now Zealand Farmers' Union was hckl at tho offices of the secretary, Mr llugK Mitchell, yesterday Sir R. Sbolt, president, in tho-chair. 1 . ' oonnEsroSDEscß. Tlio Auckland hardware and ammunition trndo representatives wrote protesting against tlio increaso of duty on cartridges. —Reccivod. .The Secretary of Agriculture wrote, in' reply to tho union's letter, stating that tho department could not soo its way to taking over tho preparation of bird poison,, and spiling the same to fanners and orehaiaists. —Kccoived.. . , ' . v

/\,. r , c Superintendent of Government Railways wrote, in regard to trains to Mievalo and a shelter shed at Dnnrobm, stating that tho former could not bo arranged at present, but that tho latter ,VO mu ,c piovklcd.—Rocoivctl. Iho Railway Department wrote slating that tho matter of reduced railage on hares would bo considered, and that advice would bo sent, on in duc course.—Heccived. •vt"™ -M.H.R., .lames Allen, iVI.H.R, the Hon. R. M'Nab, T. Mackenzie, 11. H.R., and tlio Commissioner of thrown Lands wroto acknowledging resolutionr, concerning Crown'tenants' valuation Qt the end of leases.— Keceivcd. G. L. Tjvenf.ymnn wroto slating (liat a branch of tho union was to' ho started in Canterbury, and asking for- a copy of the rules.—Rcceivcd. ■ ' ■ •Tho Secretary of tho Kaitangata Branch wroto forwarding an opinion that ploughinen should produce certificates of competencj; when applying for situations, also larm servants; and that boys should start at '5s a week and find .themselves, as in other callings,—Received. The Secretary of tho Widdlcmareh Branch ior.vardcd Iho following resolution.:-" That 11116 branch considers the demands of (lie I'firniOTS Labour/ Union exorbifj.nl,- and 4 Farmers' Union; sympathises/-with Ind Canterbury employers in tho action talcon by thcin.—'Received. Tho Secretary of the Milton Branch" forwarded a resolution as follows:—" That this branch rccaiiitnends tlio" oxecutivoto uso its' beat endeavour -to have farm labourers ex ; omded jfroin,' tho operations of J 'tho -Arbitration Act." . !'

• aqsioultcral 1ABOTO...;I; '. ' Tho President imported haviftg giyon. evidcnco «t Wellington befoiu tlio/Exicnsioh Lommeroe Committee ro corn sact-s. A : copy Of the report of the North Canter-' bury Provincial District of;-the formers' Union on tho Arbitration' Court proceedings, was laid on''tho 4*Mi' It >vns resolved•: >. ~ i; " That -this : exccutivo express to (ho Government tho disastrous effects to. tho farming industry which'would be brought liboiit by. bringing agricultural labour under tho act, and urging the Government to bring in.'ari amending bill'to eSiompt agricultural labour.

members present .wero :of opinion' that farmers wero on quite a different footlnff from manufacturers and other ernplo.Tois who come under tho act, inn6'niuoh ns tho 1 latter close had ite industries pro* and could raiso tho price of goods would an mcvenso of wages - m'olro it oxi«dicnt, whereas, on, tho.. other . hand,-; tho farniM* had to corejjoto with thcopon marKoto of (ho world, and had, consequently, no means of recompensing himself should tho cost of production. bo increased. . .. It was dccidc'd.'fo intimate to the Chairman of the labour Bills Coramiftco 'that tho.union \va« willing to send representativcn to giTO evidence concerning tho Arbitration Amendment, Act

It wan alqo dccidcd to 6ond'the following resolution to tho Advisory 'Board of fho union in Wellington:-"That tho Government be roqucstcd to amend tho Harbour Boards Bill so ns to give country districts four ropresonlativos instead of three, as proposed;" .