THE FREEZING WORKS DIFFICULTY

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 50, 23 November 1926, Page 15

THE FREEZING WORKS DIFFICULTY

FARMERS’ POINT OF VIEW, tho better way, but for goodness sake Sir, —I ain sure it most be the e £. rncs y hope nf everyone who is reasonable all that wiser counsels will prevail, and that the union men will commence work. It is well known that the present rate of wages wns fixed by tne Arbitration Court about two years ago and does not expire until next Juno And yet those who represent the mon demand a 10 per cent, rise now. Are these agreements made to nc Kepi or to be broken? The freezing anthorities are keeping their side of tne

agreement, and the men should keep theirs. They are getting a very high rate of wages as compared with other industries. And now I will give you the farmers’ rint of view. Sneaking for myself can honestly say that for many years I have been working at a toss. My employees have been and are making more than I am, and any farmer who employs a fair amount of labour is in the same position. And just now prices of primary produce ol all kinds are at a very low ebb. Taking all these facts into consideration, do tho advisers of the union men really think the farmers and the townspeople will allow the work to be he <1 np? Rather than that this should happen I will go to the works myself if necessary and give what assistance I can. It is well known that freezing companies have been losing money for years. If the farmers and the companies are working at a loss, how can blood be got from a stone? I would say to the advisers of the men and to the men themselves. “For God’s sake let us bo reasonable.” Might I suggest that nt all future conferences between employers and employees a uroportion of the more level-headed amongst the workers themselves be included? And we must remember that on the prosperity of the farmers depends that of the whole country. If their produce is held up, everything is at a standstill. Strikes are the greatest hindrance to the welfare of the British Empire that we have to deal with. Nothing but trouble and suffering have ever resulted from them. Sane arbitration is always the batter way. but for goodness sake when an award is arrived at, let us stick to it for the full period arranged I earnestly appeal to the commonsense of everyone to use their utmost influence to prevent a strike taking place. But if the union men fail to carry out the terms of their agreement, then it is the clear duty of us all in town and country to see that the work goes on. A better way for settling these differences than by strikes will Lave to be found, as if is unreasonable that the whole community should be made to suffer from the disputes of.n small section. Let ns settle our differences like men without dragging the women and children into them, ns always happens in the case of a strike.—l am. etc., G. F. MOORE, Bushy Park.