CAPITAL AND LABOUR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 303, 18 September 1919, Page 3

CAPITAL AND LABOUR

A BETTER UNDERSTANDING DISCUSSION BY FARMERS' UNION The relations between Capital and Labour were discussed by delegates to tho conference of tho New Zealand Farmers' Union yesterday. Two remits were on the order paper from Wellington and Southland dealing with the matter. The Southland Union suggested that the timo , bad arrived when the platform of Hie Farmers' Union should be altered to include the for.motiou of a farmers' political party, and tho Wellington Union proposed that a 'committee be sot im to draft suggestions for legislation which would be acceptable boin to fanners and Labour. On Tuesday a committee was appointed to consider both these remits, and yesterday it submitted the result of its deliberations to tho conference. Mr. ,T. H. Joll (Hawke's Bay) said the committee had nassed the following resolution:—"That the- Farmers' Union affirm tie following principles: -That the citttinsr up of largo estates by compulsory repurchase at fair values is in Hie best interests of the country. That in order to facilitate the closer settlement of new land, farm schools under small boarde of farmers be established in every farming district, whero young men shall enRape for two years at an adequate wage to be educated in farming, and when they have passed tlieir practical examinations be placed on the land. That such land be purchased and stocked by tho Stato and handed over virtually on the same terms and conditions as land is found for soldiers on, payment being extended over a period of years. That suburban lands be cut uu, roadtxl, and trammed, and houses built on them for workers, who shall bo entitled "to purchase them on timo payment. Thnt the principle that shall sroverft these proposals shall be the freehold."

Mr. .Toll said he thought they should show that the farmers were in sympathy with tho working nlasses. They ivore told that there must be a strike at the end.of the present year, but he thought thit if the members of tho union would indicate thai, they meant to do something to uplift the masses a good understanding could be brought iroont. "Wβ must come in contact with the classes beneath us more than ever we did before," continued Mr. .Toll. Direct action was the hist thing that should be reverted to by ihe farming and every inemberof the union should support the resolution of the committee in order to try to bring about a better understanding between tlio primary'producers and tho other workers).

Mr. Joll moved nnd Mr. E. Dunn (Taran.'iki) seconded that the resolution be adopted. . ; / Mr. S. O. Jounneaux (Auckland) said efforts must be made to remnvo the distrust ' between employer and , employee. Those who were practising a "go-slow" policy were being misled by tlieir leaders. They must • bring the workers to recognfeo tnat if more work required to be done the employers wero willing to pay for it. By so doing, production would be increased.- At the present juncture, when tho commercial position of the Empire was at stake, there was necessity for more work, thrift, and production. ' , ' Mr. D. Jones (North Canterbury) arid that industrial development should bo stimulated m New Zealand. Unless tlioro was industrial expansion, taxation wouM increase. Tho cry thnt land was the only source of wealth, was ono 'that they should set out to kill. It was said that there were too many people in the towns, but as a matter of fact thnro wero not ■enough. . The farmeru of New ■ Zealand wero hated more than any other class he knew of in the world, ind they themselves were largely 'to: blnme, beijause they had urged agricultural expansion as against industrial development.

Mr. W. J. Polspn. (Wanganni) said there were peonlo in the Dominion who were not in a financial position to build houses ?or themselves, , and that being .the case, lie thought the Government should advance money to such people at low rates of interest to enable them to build. Tho following proposed addition.to the resolution of tho committee was very '■Hefiy discussed nnd then ' adopted:— .hat it should be impressed on the tannine community that proper and convenient homna must be provided for em-, ployees. In order that this can be done power should be given to county councils to advance borrowed money for the building of these homes' on farms for the use of employees, such money to be eocured by a special rate on the property concerned." : A. further addition to tho committee's report was moved by Mr. W. A. Banks /Canterbury) as follows-.—"That to secure ppnnnnont progress in the Dominion, industrial development must go hand in hand with land settlement." 'Die amendment was lost. Its proposal was due in tho first instance to a suggestion from Mr. D. Jones. Delegates appeared to suspect that there was something behind tho motion bearing upon tariff policy. The amended report of the committee was adopted.