FARM LABOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23703, 10 January 1939, Page 10

FARM LABOUR

ROOT CAUSE OF PROBLEM INABILITY OF INDUSTRY TO PAY REPLY TO WORKERS’ STATEMENT (Per United Press Association) . WELLINGTON, Jan. 9. The opinion that the whole root of the farm labour problem is the inability of the industry to pay is expressed in a statement issued by the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, replying to a statement on the question of farm labour made on Saturday by Mr A. Cook, genferal secretary of the New Zealand Workers’ Union. “The policy of the Public Works Department should be to fill in gaps in private employment, but to-day public works are on the way to becoming one of the main industries of the country and are competing for labour with industries which are called on to foot the bill for them,” the statement says. “Mr Cook states that the workers never get a chance to meet real farmers in conference and that the workers meet only professionals. The boot is entirely on the other foot, as can be demonstrated by taking the personnel from the recent conference in regard to share-milking agreements. At that conference, on the labour side there were three professionals and three share-milkers, and there were two farmers and one professional on the other side. The same thing will be found to apply in all similar conferences which have been held. “ The whole root of the farm labour problem is the inability of the industry to pay. Sheep fanning in New Zealand to-day is being carried on at a loss, and the industry cannot possibly continue to carry its present load of costs and pay even the present rates of wages. As long as this state of affairs remains the farm labour problem will continue, and the only solution is to base the wages and rewards of other sections of the community on the economic position of the basic industries, that is, the farming industries. Until this is done our economic troubles will continue.” OVERCOMING THE SHORTAGE CONFERENCE OF INTERESTED PARTIES

(Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Jan. 9. Following the suggestion made recently by the Minister of Labour (Mr P. C. Webb) a conference was held to-day between representatives of the Labour Department and the Auckland provincial district of the Farmers’ Union on the question of supplying labour on farms. The conference disclosed a desire by the union to co-operate and make use of the assistance offered by the Government. It was presided over by Mr W. Slaughter, officer in charge of the department in Auckland. Arrangements were discussed for the State Placement Service to cooperate with the Farmers’ Union for a supply of labour for harvesting and other seasonal work, and also on ways and means of securing a supply of permanent labour for sheep and dairy farms. FARMERS AND EMPLOYEES AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 9. Thousands of farmers and their employees throughout New Zealand are interested in the conference to be held next month to discuss whether there will be any. change in the existing farm workers’ agreement. Farm workers, except those on dairy farms (who have a special agreement), have been working under an arrangement come to nearly two years ago between the farmers, the Government, and the workers’ organisations. The coming conference will make its recommendations to the Minister of Labour (Mr P. C. Webb) under whose authority this particular agreement is ratified. “UNFORTUNATE TERMS” REPLY BY FARMERS’ PRESIDENT NOT A FRIENDLY INVITATION (Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 9. The view that in the .terms in which it was uttered the offer could hardly be interpreted as a friendly invitation was voiced by the Dominion president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union (Mr W. W. Mulholland) when commenting tonight on the suggestion made by Mr A. Cook, general secretary of the New Zealand Workers’ Union, that farmers and workers’ representatives should meet to discuss problems involved in the provision of casual farm labour. “ There are several suggestions made by Mr Cook in his statement which are worthy of consideration,” Mr Mulholland said, “but, if Mr Cook really wants to meet the representatives of the farmers, he knows (and knew) that he has only to let the New Zealand Farmers’ Union know and the conference will be arranged at any time. A public statement couched in rather unfortunate terms such as this one is, however, can hardly be regarded as a sort of invitation which could be accepted. “Mr Cook is quite frequently in touch with our office,” Mr Mulholland said,'“and there have been no difficulties whatever in his being able to request any conference he thought fit. It is evident that he recognises that some excuse has had to be found for taking this unusual method of invitation, and no doubt that is what inspired his statement that he na? never had a chance of meeting the real farmers in conference but only the professionals. This statement is decidedly surprising, seeing that in the various conferences we have had with Mr Cook’s organisation the farmers have been represented by men actually engaged on fanning business, while Mr Cook’s organisation has been represented very largely by those whom ho no doubt mean£ as professional men—men employed as officials of unions.

“If Mr Cook genuinely desires a discussion on the points he has raised.” Mr Mulholland added, “he will no doubt take the proper methods of approach. I have no doubt that my executive will be quite willing to arrange for a meeting. but I am certain that they will not regard this statement as being such an invitation.”