AN UNUSUAL CONDITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24782, 5 December 1941, Page 4

AN UNUSUAL CONDITION

The question whether the price at which the Government has offered to purchase the apple and pear crop for 1942 would be a reasonable one if it were not accompanied by conditions that seem to be as improper as they are unusual is one that is necessarily of public interest. The community has had no reason to be gratified with the manner in which the marketing of fruit by the Goveriunent has been undertaken or with the results of it. If it were possible to ascertain the opinions of the consumers on the subject it would probably be found that there was a consensus of opinion that at no time in their experience has the marketing of fruit been more unsatisfactory than it has been since it was taken over by a State department. Nor can the general body of the producers look back with unmixed feelings upon their dealings with the department and upon its treatment of them. This year, they have, through the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation, considered it necessary to break off their negotiations with the Government because it has attempted to secure their acquiescence in what they rightly describe as an extraordinary condition of its purchase of their apples and pears. The condition is that the wages of workers under the prchard workers' agreement are to be 5 per cent, above the rate specified in the present agreement. The fruitgrowers' objection to a condition of this nature is thoroughly well founded. It is a coercive condition for which it is impossible to perceive any justification. The rate of wages that should be paid is one to be settled either between the parties themselves or by reference to the tribunals specially appointed for the purpose of adjusting the conditions of employment. The fruitgrowers had actually reached an agreement with their employees, the operation of which was subject to their receiving substantially the same price for their fruit as was paid to them last year, but this agreement has been rendered inoperative through the price that is /offered by the Government being regarded by the producers as inferior to last year's price. The con-

dition which the Government has sought to impose on the growers would, however, be clearly inopportune even if it were not improper. At a time when the Arbitration Court is deliberating on an application for the issue of a general order under which all wages fixed by awards or agreement would be raised, it would seem to be entirely wrong that increases should be made, under pressure or otherwise, in special cases. The effect of their being made might be to disturb the general wage balance throughout the Dominion.