GENERAL FARM LABOURERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 849, 22 June 1910, Page 10

GENERAL FARM LABOURERS.

AND BOYS FROM HOME. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) ■ Christchurch, June 20. At a meeting-of the executive of. the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Labourers' Union, held on Saturday evening, it was decided to take steps to institute an industrial dispute between the union and the employers of farm labour. ■The secretary of the union (Mr. E. Kennedy) informed a. reporter that tho effect of the resolution .arrived.at was that, in •view of tho action of tho farmers iu getting cheap labour from. Home, the union should again cite them before tho Conciliation Council. Mr. Kennedy was instructed to place the'resolution before the members, of tho' various branches .oi •the union, and to have it confirmed by. •them. It is. intended to divido the dispute into two sections—one dealing with . day labour, and the'other with weekly ; hands. Asked regarding the allegation in the resolution that tho. farmers aro' getting cheap labour from Home,. Mr. Kennedy stated that the information on ■which the statement was based was got from the reports of some of tho committees of the farmers' unions throughout the Dominion, and also,from a'circular issued by. the Auckland A: and P. Association, in which (in the course of ■a reference to lads from Home to be sent •out by the committee, which was represented by Mr.. T. D. Sedgwick) it was suggested that the boys might be given a email wage, ,abput 2s. (id. per week, and ■■ ;their board* >j • , .' .I\,l Big things aTe expected at Shannon la fthe flax industry ;next season,. 6aya- the "Jfanawatu- Standard." A .gang of men commenced the erection of a four-stripper [mill for Whitarani, Ltd., at Moutoa this i iweek, which will be in full swing by the fend of August. Messrs. A. and L. 'Soiuert ..are also. making extensive preparations at Makerua. They intend running 'both day and night shifts all next sca.son,, and are installing a large number of 1000 candle-power lamps for. the night work. They arc also boring in two places for an extra supply of water that will be needed. A large number of men are busy raising the dam another six' feet to allow for extra storage. Accommodation for another 200 men is also to bo erected.. A'new mill is being erected at Taiaka for Mr. Alfred Seifert.