OPINION OF THE FARMERS' ADVOCATE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 24 August 1908, Page 5

OPINION OF THE FARMERS' ADVOCATE.

(Per Press Association.)

• CHRISTOHUROH, August 22. . Mr D.Jo.nes, one of the farmers' advocates during the hearing of the farm labourers' dispute, was seen by .a "Star" reporter to-day relative to the Arbitration Court's decision :in -.. the ! farm labourers' dispu't-e.: He said'it was gratifying to„ the farmers to find that tho Court in its judgment had upheld the contentions; that .-..tho farmers had been fighting for all through. He wished to say. that. he looked oi>" the finding as a victory as. much for the farm workers .as for, the. farmers^ He had recognised throughout the case that it was }ii the interests of all parties to allow things ;to continue-as at present. Mr. Tiiorn had said that the judged •iiiiding was simply a rehash of his (xVIr Jones') address;" biit. he. regarded ' that as a high compliment to himself. It proved at any. rate that the line: of argument he' had taken up had ; appealed to. the good sense' of the Court, which had practically given a finding on the lines of his address. He believed that the bulk of the farm workfers were as pleased with the judgment as the farmers, and he had heard of instances la&t evening, in the district, where.'1 the workers, when; the news got , abroad, had got on .their"bicycles 'and joined their mates to- 'rejoico that they istill had their freedom. The finding oiitho Courb was especially.'..gratifying -to'the farming community,:because it proived that aitei- seven m'ontlis of .continual taking of evidence the; Court; had fdecided that the farmers had dealt on-the wholo justly -with their men, and the,'recommendatioiis : of the Court merely said tliat the1 farmers should go on doing what they, were'now doing. He belieyod that the farmers would on the whole carry them out.where possible:...'' A great deal had been made of the fact that it was possible to make an .award in tho farming industry; but: the' groat point to.fhe considered was not whether, it was possible but whether it. wa^-desirable. ■. Tho Oaurt mainfaincd,^ aa tho; f.armers hikd maintained/ tha'b l't'-was undt-sirable -to interfere w;th■ existing coriditibns. "-Ib is to be- regretted," saici Mr Jones, Am conclusion, '•'■' that Mr :McCuilough, in his interview, has given expression to tlio views there stated, and had accused tho Court of being a party to a gross miscarriage of justice/ This comes very badly from a toan in his position;. "He wa3,one of the chief driginatbrs of the •dispiite, and I fully, expected he would have had the manliness^ and; good taste to refrain, from sitting on what was practically his .own offspring, thereby making a mockery? of justice." ;