FARM ACCOMMODATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3033, 1 May 1912, Page 20

FARM ACCOMMODATION.

DEPUTATION TO MR LAURENSON CHRISTCHURCH, April 27. A deputation consisting of Messrs E Kennedy (secretary of the Agriculture Labourers’ Unionl, Mr M. Larry, ano others waited on Mr Laurenson and com flained of the accommodation supplier o«r workers on farms in Canterbury, Mr Kennedy said that no attempt had been made to put the act into operation. He had received hundreds of letters stating that the men were afraid to make complaints. The union would like to have authority given to its secretary to go on the farm premises to inspect them, and something ought to be done at once. The" accommodation was bad ; that was all about it. Mr Larry said that the mistake made was the refusal of the Arbitration Court to make an award in the farm labourers’ dispute, because the union then went to pieces. A body of men who were strong enough to have an act placed on the Statute Book should be strong enough to see that it was put into operation. The farm labourers themselves were largely to blame. They ought to organise. It was absolutely necessary to give authority to the union secretary to inspect the Eremisee. If that was done there would e no necessity for the army of inspectors which Mr Millar apparently had dreaded. The Minister said that on the' previous day he had had a deputation from the flaxniill' workers in the Manawatu, and {Key. had made practically the same request. They showed that they had to

work under very unhealthy conditions. He had a great deal of sympathy with them. Instructions had been given that where complaints were made action should be taken. There was no doubt that the regulations under tli£- act ought to be enforced, but the difficulty was to prepare regulations that would suit the mass of those affected. Obviously it would be a very risky thing to allow a man over whom the Government had no control to go to a person’s book and ascertain how much he was receiving and paying. He would see in the course of next week what steps could be taken to have regulations framed under the act.