ARBITRATION COURT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19787, 10 March 1927, Page 6

ARBITRATION COURT

FARMERS DISSATISFIED SECRET BALLOT ADVOCATED That the Arbitration Court was only reducing the efficiency of the New Zealand worker was the opinion expressed by Mr J. R. Franklin at a meeting of the Wanganui branch of the Farmers’ Union yesterday. The subject was introduced by Mr D. McGregor, who wanted to know if the Dominion executive had taken any action in connection with the resolution, passed at the farmers’ rally at Wan* ganui last December, favouring the abolition of the Arbitration Court. Members agreed that the time had arrived when action should be taken. Mr J. Taylor contended that the enforcement of the secret ballot principle would do away with strikes. Mr Franklin: The Arbitration Court drags all workers down to the same level. Mr McGregor was dissatisfied with the manner in which the Dominion executive allowed things to slide. Mr A. Robinson said a properly constituted Arbitration Court was all right, but he was against preference to Unionists. The chairman (Mr T. Currie) pointed out that the resolution from the rally held in December did not come officially from the Farmers’ Union. The meeting, at which those present were Messrs T. Currie, C. H. Ross, B. Dawes, J. Allison, A. McLeod, F. Handley, B. Somerville, D. McGregor, J Taylor, W. Howie, W. Morrison, J. R. Franklin, and A. Robinson, decided to ascertain the views of branches on th e subject.