FARMERS UNITED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26437, 16 April 1947, Page 6

FARMERS UNITED

GROWING UNREST FORTY-HOUR WEEK PRINCIPLE INCREASED PAYMENT SOUGHT PA HAMILTON, Apl. 15. Demanding that payment for all farm produce should be based on the 40-hour week principle, a mass meeting of farmers in Hamilton this afternoon attracted solid support. Ine meeting was convened by the Hamilton sub-province of the Federated Farmers. , „ . Speakers stressed that all the farmers were asking was that they should be paid on the same basis as other sections of the community. That all the farmers were united on the question and were in earnest was indicated by the excellent attendance, said Mr H. D. McDonald, who presided. “Why was this mass meeting of all farmers, farm workers, sharemilkers, and their women folk called? ” he asked in opening the meeting. “ The executive of the Federated Farmers Hamilton sub-province became aware, through its branch contact, of the growing unrest among the farming community at the continually increasing disparity between the treatment of farmers and other sections of the community. It feared that the leaders of our farming industries might hot be as firm in their demands for just treatment as they would be if they were sure of the united backing of their rank and file. “ The executive of the Hamilton subprovince of the. Federated Farmers, through its rank-and-file system of maintaining contact with the man on the farm, felt so confidently that it had gauged the pulse of the average farmer and farm worker that it has called this mass meeting to demonstrate not only to their respective farm industry leaders, but also to the country, that: Points at Issue “ 1. The time has arrived when the farmer and farm worker can and will unite in a single front to demand justice and equality of treatment witii other sections of the community. “2. That we will resist in our own interests and in the interests of the country to whatever extent may be deemed necessary by our leaders the return of the farming community to that of serfdom, for that is what is taking place to-day. "3. That we refuse to be the ‘ Cinderella’ industry of New Zealand. “4. That we again demand, united this time, that the Government implement its pledge that we should be measured by the same yardstick as other industries. “5. That we demand of our leaders that they accept nothing less than our just dues, taking into full consideration the Government’s pledge. “6. That we will pledge ourselves individually and collectively to support our industry leaders in demands on our behalf.

“I would take this opportunity to point out that the demand for payment on a 40-hour week basis does not mean that we are asking farmers and their employees to work only 40 hours a week,” Mr McDonald said, “ but that the price for all farm produce shall be sufficient to cover all costs and to compensate farmers , and their employees for the extra hours worked.” Moving a resolution, Mr F. L. Onion, of Te Kowhai, said that the size of the meeting gave a clear indication of the feelings of the farmers and a warning to the Government of the unrest in primary industry. They had shown that they were not satisfied with the position and demanded economic justice. Mr Onion asked that the promise of Mr Nash, made in 1935, and contained in the Primary Products’ Marketing Act, 1936. should be implemented. Resolutions Carried The resolution was: “ That this meeting demands that the prices for all farm produce shall be sufficient to cover all costs and to compensate farmers and their employees for the overtime hours worked compared with the rest of the community.” A resolution: “That this meeting pledges itself, individually and collectively, to fulfil the instructions our leaders may give if their demands are not granted in full.” was carried unanimously. It was further resolved: “ That we ask that all branches of the Federated Farmers take similar action ”; “That the results of this meeting be telegraphed to the Dairy Industry Conference, the Dominion headquarters of the Federated Farmers, the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, and the Electoral College of the Meat Board.” These resolutions were, carried unanimously.