COMPULSORY UNIONISM

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 58, 10 March 1937, Page 7

COMPULSORY UNIONISM

OBJECTIONS BY FARMERS. DISCUSSION AT HAMILTON. HAMILTON, March 5. Compulsory unionism among farmers was discussed at length at a meeting of the Waikato executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to-day, the subject being raised by a remit from Gordonton. “If you had compulsory unionism and there was a strike, your own sons would have to strike against you,” said Mr. J. H. Furniss. ‘You would lose your freedom of labour, for you could not pick and choose your men. There would be, not one farmers’ union, but a multitude of smaller unions, for dairymen, sheep breeders, agricultural workers, and others. Unitv of purpose would be lost, for if you force men into a union you will get discord. This matter was discussed at the last conference in Wellington, and it was then decided not to support compulsory unionism.” Voluntary unionism was the ideal, said another member, conscripts were no good. The chairman, Mr. S. N. Ziman: Compulsory unionism, which is an industrial benefit and is concerned chiefly with wages, hours and working conditions, would alter the character of the Farmers’ Union, which does other, broader work. What wp want is not compulsory members, but truly active members. It was decided to refer the remit back to the Gordonton branch, to be brought up again at the next provincial conference.