THE ARBITRATION COURT

Taranaki Daily News, 2 June 1927, Page 9

THE ARBITRATION COURT

CONDEMNATION BY FARMERS MOVE FOR ITS ABOLITION. “DAIRYMEN ARE BEING CRUSHED.” By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. The question of the usefulness of the Arbitration Court was discussed at some length at the annual meeting of the South Island Dairy Association to-day. Mr. Herron (Pukerau factory) moved: “That the South Island Dairy Association press for the abolition of the Arbitration Court as it affects the dairy farmer.” He said that the remit was the most important on the order paper that day. It had been discussed from one end of the country to the other. They were undoubtedly faced with a calamity, and that calamity was the Arbitration Court. There was no intention to cut down wages, but certainly the present expenses of the factories were very heavy. The chief idea was the reduction of staffing in the factories. If they did not put their backs into this thing they were going to be crushed The Court had crushed the timber trade, the implement trade and other trades. It was only a matter of time when the implement trade would go out altogether. The dairy industry was worth £20,000,000 per year, and if they lost that it would be a calamity. They did not want to crush any man. Unfortunately the farmer himself was not getting a fair deal and was being crushed. It was quite impossible under the system for the smaller factories to carry on much longer. Mr. Preston, he noticed, had stated at a meeting of the Farmers’ Union the previous day that the farmers did not work as hard as usual and that they ran about the country in motor ears. Now he took exception to that statement. (Hear! hear!) He did not know Mr. Preston, but he was sure he was not a dairy farmer. If the motion were carried he wanted all the farmers to sign a petition and bring it before Parliament this session. It was time the farmer got on to a foundation where he could live. (Applause.) Mr. H. Coster (Kaikawa Valley) seconded the motion. He said that the smaller factories were the chief sufferers. The motion was carried.