THE FARM LABOURERS DISPUTE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9322, 24 August 1908, Page 1

THE FARM LABOURERS DISPUTE.

THE FINDING OF THE ARBITRA TION COURT. THE DECISION DISCUSSED. The decision of the Arbitration Cour in the farm labourers' dispute, whicl was filed with tho Clerk of Award* oh Friday, was freely discussed or Saturday. Tho workers have pro tested strongly against the Court's refusal to mate a general . aware covering farm work. The Farrr Labourers' Union has passed a resolution, asking for the removal of Mr Justice Sim from the Arbitration Couri bench, and has made arrangements t< begin a campaign for the furtherance of its demands throughout Canterbury THE FARM LABOURERS' UNION. REQUEST FOR MR JUSTICE SIM'S REMOVAL. ANOTHER CAMPAIGN TO BE OPENED. . A special meeting of the executive of the Farm Labourers' Union was held on Saturday evening in the Trades Hall to consider the decision of the Arbitration Court in the farm labourers' dispute. Mr W. F. Hales (president of the Union) was in the chair. The following resolution, was unanimously carried — " That this Union, seeing that Mr Justice Sim has refused the farm labourers of Canterbury an award of the Court, and being convinced that such a decision could only have been come to after a complete disregard of tho facts proved in evidence and by an unreasonable and invincible bias against the workers, demands the immediate removal of Mr Justice Sim from the Arbitration Court Bench; and further, this Union desires to express its strong conviction tliat actions manifesting such ineptitude, incompetence and weakness as are to be found in the decision made, constitute a grave menace to the industrial welfare of the dominion." The secretary was instructed . to forward a copy of the resolution to the Trades Councils, Trades Unions and labour organisations of the dominion, urging them to adopt the resolution and forward it to the Minister oi : Labour and to the local members of Parliament. It was decided to issue a petition and to canvass for signatures throughout the dominion asking for the immediate withdrawal of Mr Justice Sim from the Arbitration Court Bench. It was resolved to invite Trades Councils, Trades Unions and labour and progressive organisations to support the petition. The question of placing a statement before the country workers was discussed, and it was unanimously resolved to send three paid organisers immediately into the country to hold simultaneous meetings in the south, the middle and the north of Canterbury. The secretary reported, that the services of several organisers had been offered free of charge, and that sums of money had already been donated. It was resolved to thank the donors and. to accept the services of the organisers. The following resolution was unanimously carried — "That this executive desires to thank the ' Lyttelton Times ' and ' Star ' for^ their manly articles i-x connection with the Court's decision." Meetings of farm workers will be addressed, by Mr Ja?«e&>aib©K»ir*tr4*F^bW<s ton to-morrow and at Southbridg© on Saturday.