OPPOSE OWN UNION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 169, 17 October 1941, Page 5

OPPOSE OWN UNION

FARMER COUNCILLORS DECISION

CARTAGE RATES DISCUSSED

AT ROTORUA

Grave doubts whether the Farmers' Union Avas representative of farmers in the Rotorua district Avas expressed by members of the Rotorua County Council, all of Avhom arc farmers, Avlien the recent sittings of the No. 1 Transport Licensing AuthoritA* at Whakatane and Rotorua Avere discussed at the monthly meeting on Tuesday. The council decided to' oppose the efforts of the Farmers' Union to fight anj r increase in cartage rates councillors contending that in the Bay. of Plenty this Avoul-d result in the breaking of the "gentleman's agreement" betAveen farmers and carriers Avhich had operated to the satisfaction of both.

Two members of the council, Mr H. P. Ford, chairman, and Mr V. C. Florey, who are now both members of the Farmers' Union, represented the farmers and the carriers respectively in the negotiations leading to the agreement last year, and a/t the next meeting of .the Rotorua branch of the union will ask on whose authority Mr A. C. A. Sexton, of Auckland, represented the union at the sittings of the Authority. No l Increase Sought Cr V. C. Florey, who is also president of the Rotorua Carriers' Association, explained that there had been no intention of applying for an increase in cartage rates until the representative of the Farmers' Union opposed any increase at all, including the 10 per cent agreed on last year. This action had forced the local carriers to fall into line j with carriers elsewhere, and ask for a further increase of 5 per cent to meet some of the additional running costs. "Docs this union represent the Rotorua farmers?'" asked Cr A. L. Keith. "Unless it includes over half the farmers it has no right to obstruct our agreement." The chairman explained that the Farmers' Union had the right to make representations to the Authority, but it should have consulted the county council. As it was, it had upset a splendid agreement. The union had fought increased costs elsewhere, and it was unfortunate that its action had had this effect in Rotorua, stated Cr S. B. Murray. Mr Ford added that it was obvious that the union had not compared the Rotorua cartage rates with those existing elsewhere, and that they did not know their job. He paid a tribute to the carriers in their willingness to share the burden of increased costs and meet the faimer half-way, and moved that the council should object to the undue interference of the Farmers' Union. It was decided that the council ssould make written submissions to the No. 1 Licensing Authority at the next sitting at Hamilton where final evidence would be heard before a decision was made on amended cart r age rates. "This interference is going to 'cost the farmers in this .district a pile of money," added Cr Keith.