Union v. Council

Southland Times, Issue 15171, 15 February 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

Union v. Council

Fangitikei Advocate

Afc last meeting of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council, an august bioy which aeeiata in managing the affairs of thi-i colony without incurring *ny responsibility either in direct taxation or otherwi's-, ihe President, Mr NftUghton, made Bomeremuks of special interest to members of the Farmers Union. He sail— "There never was a time in the hUtory of the colony when i: was more necessary far trade unionists to be alive to their interosle. There wub another organisation growing nn in the colony, the Farmero' Union, aud tnere was no doubt that unless trades unionists a^ner ed their strength, and did not dissipate it in the way th-y were now doing, they would probably rind ere long that that body would have a power wbioh it is not justly entitled to. New Zealand, the speaker declared, had been 'run' in the interests of fche farming community. They had always baen catered to, and had b'ien continually before tbe public and the Hou**e. On the contrary, the cl»io)S of the great body of the «okera had to go unattended to. It was, therefore, necessary for them to take acjon. A geoeral election would take place in December, and it was incumbent on them to Bte that they were geing to have Bome represen tation in the next Parliament. Th*y sh-:u d siart at once on the campaign.' We r jjice to note this determination on tbe pirt ot the Lords of Libour. Opposition of tnie kind is the one thing needed to Wrli the farmers and producurs into one united mas? which will fall oq the other side with crußhirjg force. It will give clearly defined lines od which to fight every election in the country oi-tricts, and every candidate who sides wi'h the labour unionists or their supporters will be a 'raitor >o the iotereste of the producer*. Tne labour uci -us an themselves going to no all that is required to make the Farmers Union an unexampled suueees. The producere are inam^joriyif four to one, and every farmer will be made to realise that he must work in unity with hu fellow-producers if he wishes to promote his own in'erests, and save hirruelf from spoliation. L' t bnhsiies org»,ise, ani the result is a foregone eon.luMoc

The farmers will lauf>h at ths ab urd incorrectness of M • Naugnon's aiseruun that New Zea and h>s beeu "run" in their in teres's, bat no aoabt his hearers swallowed the statement. They would not be likely to r fl-ct i hut in both Houses of Parliament farmers are prac ically unrepresented, aDd that whenever posa ble sone una connected with a libour union, or approved by one, has had the Siddon m*rk ot "right colour" placed on him at ev-ry eleci'oa for the H >nse of Rupri a±ntativei, while whenever opportunity has been given the l.fg'rUtive Council lua b-ea tuff >i with b<>il' nriaker ■■, or others wiio have been associated wit i labour unionism, hor would they consider trut while the producers h.ve to p*y luavy lo.al rating, aad t» eir pr - ducts have to pro vide all t ie Uxation of the country the cosi of producing is increased by fifty per coat owing '0 the protective policy f rot;d on the colony by organised labour uoiouism. With the obuoxioua Factory Act, W-rlunet.'* Onmpensitioo, Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration, with all the c">rjDs>»to r y, sloth encouraging l»gisl<Uioo, an-1 the hua'ueds <'f other tils we have been made tT bea-, it is rathtr startling to be tjld that "the claima of tha grea f body of workers had to go ut a' - tended to." What moie do tiey want, an;l what more can be given, unl-'ss they desire to absolutely entl»ve the producers '' We may also remark tat the labour unionists do not c nstitute "the great body of wot kerb" in this colony, though they are fon 1 of piviug themselves this title. The Re^is'rar-Genbt al'e statistics show they are larg ly in tha minoiity— and the majority are beginning to realite th' ir strength when combined. It ia not the cdony which is being "run" ia the interests of farinerei but the producers who htwe been exploited for the benefit of party politicians, labour unini&ts, cranks aud f add Ms of all kinds.