MASS MEETING DEMANDS PAYMENT ON 40-HOUR BASIS

Chronicle (Levin), 16 April 1947, Page 6

MASS MEETING DEMANDS PAYMENT ON 40-HOUR BASIS

-Press Assvciation

By Teflegraph-

HAMILTON, April 15. Demandiiig tliat paynient for all farm produce be bascd on the 40-hour week principle, a mass meeting of farmers in Hamilton this al'ternoon attracted solid support, the Theatre Royal being filled to capacity. A large crowd gathered outside to listen to an addresscd meeting convened by the Hamilton sub-province of Federated Farmers. The speakers stresscd that all farmers were asking was that thov be paid on the same basis as otlier sections, of .the eommunity. That all farmers were united 011 the question and were in earnest, was indicuted by the excellent attendance, aommented Mr. II. D. McDonald, who presided. "Why was this mass meeting of all farmers, farm workers and sharemilkers and thcir womenfolk called?" askecl Mr. McDonald in opening the meeting. "The executive of Federated Farmers, Hamilton sub-province, became aware tlirough its brancli contacts, of the growing uiircst among the farming eommunity at the continually increasing disparity in treatment between farmers and otlier sections of the eommunity. "It.is feared that the leaders of our farming industries might not be as firm in their demands for just treatment, as they would be if they were sure of the united backing oi' their rank and file." Mr. McDonald added: "The executive of the Hamilton subprovince of Federated Farmers, through their rank arid file system of contacting the man on the farm, feels so confidently that it has gauged the pulse of the average farmer and farmworker, that it has called this mass meeting to demonstrate not only to their -respeetive farm industry leaders but also to the country that: — "(1) The time had arrived when farmer and farmworker can and will unite- in a single front to demand justice and equality oi' treatment with otlier sections of the eommunity. " (2) That we will resist in our own interests and in the interests of the country to whatever extent may be deemed lieccssary by our leaders, the return of the farming eommunity to that of serl'dom,. for that is what is taking place today. "(3) That we reL'use to be the Cinderella of industry in New Zealand. "(4) That we again demand (united' this time) that the (lovernment implemeut its pledge that we be measured by the same yardstick as otlier industries. " (5) That we demand of our leaders that they accept nothing less than our just due, taking into 1'ull consideration the Government's pledge. "(6) That we will pledge ourselv.es individually and collectively to support our industry leaders in demands on our behalL "1 would take this opportunity," added Mr. McDonald, "to point out that the demand for payment on a 40-hour week basis does not mean we are asking farmers and their employees to work only 40 hours per week, but that the price for all farm produce shall be suflicient to cover all costs and to compensate farmers and their employees for extra hours worked." Moving a resolution, Mr. F. L. Onion, of Tekowai, said that the size of the meeting gavc a clear indication of the fcelings of farmers and a warir.ng to the (iovermnent of the unrest in the primary industry. They had sliown that they were not satisfied with the position and demanded economic justice. Mr. Onion asked that the promise of Mr. Nash made in 1935 and contained in the Primary Products Marketing Act 1936, be implemented. The resolution was: "That this meeting demands that the price for all farm produce shall be sufficient to- cover all costs and to compensate farmers and their employees for overtime hours worked, compai'ed wilh the rest of the eommunity. " A resoltuion "That this meeting pledges itself individually and collectively to i'ulfil instructions our leaders may give if their demands are not granted in full, was earried unanimously. It was further resolved "that we ask that all branches of Federated Farmers take similar action," and "that the results of this meeting be telegraphed to the Dairy Industry Coufefence, *' Dominion headquarters of Federated Farmers, the Prime Minister and the Electoral College of the Meat Boai'd."