UNION DICTATES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20783, 19 July 1937, Page 6

UNION DICTATES

“SERVILE OBEDIENCE” HON. J. G. COBBE’S CHARGE By Telegraph—Press Association PALMERSTON N„ July 17. “One of the most regrettable features in public life in New Zealand today is the fact that those Labour members who were returned for country electorates vote solidly to order, even when the measure before the House is one that is harmful to country interests,” said the Hon. John G. Cobbe in an address to electors at Apitl. “They sit in silence, in most cases they won’t even debate such Bills, but when the division bell rings they vote as they are told. "A notable instance of this service obedience to union dictates occurred in connection with the Prevention of Profiteering Bill. Clause 4 of this measure provides for fines up to £2OO in the case of an individual and £lOOO in the case of a company for selling or offering for sale any goods at a price which a magistrate decides is an unreasonable advance on the basic price; the basic .price being the price current on June 1, 1936. “The wording of the Act clearly includes farming produce, and may be held to apply to the case of the sale if live stock, or other produce, sold by a farmer to any person, or sold by a person employed by a farmer. “It was moved on behalf of the Opposition that the heavy penalties provided under section 4 of the Bill should not apply to the sale of primary products by primary producers. “Every Labqur member present in the House, including those representing country electorates, voted against our amendment, which was designed to protect the farmer who sells his own produce. “You can see plainly such members are not really country representatives, they are simply union delegates, and vote as the city unions direct. "I know a number of farmers voted for those members. Are they going to do it again? If they do they deserve what they are getting and what they are going to get. I don't believe those Waikato and North Auckland fanners who voted Labour at the last election realised that they were voting their own wives and children into the milking sheds. Are they going to vote at the next election to keep them there?"