FACING A CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 50, 23 November 1926, Page 10

FACING A CRISIS

FARMERS CAN BEAR NO GREATER BURDEN

NOTICE SERVED ON COUNTRY

MANNING THE FREEZING WORKS

By Telegraph.—Press association

Napier, November 22.

In calling upon the farmers of the district to man the freezing works on December 1, Dlr. J. S. Jessep, chairman of the Wairoa Farmers’ Freezing Company and vice-chairman of the New Zealand Dleat Producers’ Board, trade the following statement:— "The farmers of New Zealand are facing a serious crisis. No further increase in cost can be borne by the producers. The present demand for 10 per cent, increase made by the union leaders on behalf of the freezing works employees is the direct result of the entirety unwarranted increase granted by the Arbitration Court to shearers and shed hands. This increase in the cost of shearing loaded the pastoral industry with a further £70,000 a year at a time when the industry can least afford to bear it. It is a well known fact that there was no general demand by shearers for an increase, and the same applies with equal force to the present demand put forward by union leaders in connection with the freezing industry. The great majority of workers were perfectly satisfied.

"Farmers by manning the works, as thev have done with such signal success in Hawke’s Bay, are serving no tice to the country that no further increase in the cost of production can be tolerated. Tn fact, with the steadily dropping values of primary products, cost must be reduced if production is to be maintained. “Whilst union leaders are demanding a 44-hour week, farmers are working nearer 84 hours per week, and their land is being steadily confiscated by the increasing cost of every article they purchase. The increasing cost is largely due to artificial restrictions such as Arbitration Court awards and Customs duty. Labour and industry other than farming is protected on all sides. The farmer alone must face the competition of the world.

“Land has reached the limit, and more than the limit, of the burden it can carry. Unless present costs are lowered there will be five unemployed next winter for every one there was last, as all development work on farms and stations lias stopped.” NO RESPONSE AT WAINGAWA VOLUNTEERS WILL MAN BOARD TO-MORROW Dominion Special. Dlasterton, November 22. All the usual preparations for the opening of the slaughtering season were in evidence at Waingawa to-day, but no surprise was expressed when the killing gang and general hands directly connected with the board failed to put in an appearance. For some months past, and in some cases for the whole year, men who are unionists have been employed in' the various departments which operate independent of the slaughter board and their work is proceeding as usual, though it is stated by permission of the union on the condition that no free meat is bandied. The company will man the board with vol ninteer labour on Wednesday. Whether this labour will extend beyond , the board is not certain, but doubts are expressed that any of the general labouring hands will report for duty. Plenty of Volunteer Labour. That the producers have been forewarned of the trouble and are prepared there is little doubt. They have arranged for volunteer labour from all parts of the district and it was reported to-day that the number offering by far exceeds these required. Those willing to do slaughtering have mostly had the benefit of limited' experience in home killing and so that the grower shall not suffer through badly dressed meat arrangements have been made for experienced hands to coach the volunteers through their first few days of killing. Sufficient stock is offering to ensure unbroken time, but as there is no shortage of feed, and no urgent need to rush stock into the works, matters will be taken very steadily with twentv butchers for a start and with abundant general labour offering no difficulty is anticipated. Another aspect of the dispute is that owing to shearing getting a late start, many slaughtermen are comfortably situated with a chain of shearing sheds to cut out, and as they will be engaged for at least another month they are not so concerned as the labouring hands who look to commence regular employment at the freezing works after a quiet winter. Mr. H. E. Davis (manager of the Wairarapa Frozen Dleat Company) stated to-dav that whatever happened, killing would commence on Wednesday morning, when, if no unionists leported for work a complete staff would be available to .carry on until further notice. Gear Employees May Resume. Advice was received in Dlasterton yesterday that the gear works employees were likelv to return to work. At a meeting thev held recently it is stated that a large majority voted m favour of returning to work, but at the meeting, which decided to support the Hawke’s Bav demands, they were outvoted by employees of the Meat Export Works and the New Zealand Bacon Company It is understood that the gear employees are to hold a r ? ee y ing of their own, when it is confidently anticipated by those concerned that a return to work will be decided upon. FARMERS PREPARED TO DO WORK THEMSELVES. BY Ti:i.::c’ ■ Masterton, November 22. A combined meeting of representative I ', of stock firms and producers to consider the freezing workers’ dispute passed the following resolution—" Having in view the threat to boycott Lew Zealand meat in England, this meeting suggests that as the matter is of national importance, the Government should cable the situation' to London. It should be pointed out that the freezing workers’ award does not expire until' June, 1927; that the farmer’s returns for meat and wool are much less than when the award was made; ami that the economic situation ol tne farner following the depression cnns»«l bv the British coal strike makes it impossible for him to carry on with any

increased costs in reaching the consumers. The position is that in the event of no labour offering the farmers and their sons are prepared to do the work of killing the stock themselves.

UNIONISTS WORKING AT

GISBORNE.

BY Telegraph.—press association

Gisborne, November 22

The Gisborne Sheepfarmers’ Freezing Works at Kaiti opened this morning with sixteen men, including six members of the union, on the board. No other union labour was available, and eleven volunteers were taken on, There is plenty of labour available to carry on the remainder of the works. The works at Waipaoa also opened with volunter labour.

NO RESPONSE AT WESTFIELD.

Dominion Special.

Auckland, November 22.

The position in the freezing industry in Auckland has not developed since Saturday, and so far the only call made has been at Westfield, where the slaughtermen did not respond. However, with stock for export now coming to hand, a call for slaughtermen will have to be made at the freezing works. It is understood that none of the regular men will be offering unless the dispute in the south is settled.

FEILDING WORKS TO OPEN TO-DAY.

Dominion Special.

Feilding, November 22. The management of the Feilding freezing works has made all preparation for a start to-morrow, and if the call for labour is answered in the usual way work will proceed. Failing a response bv union slaughtermen, voluntary labour will be in readiness to fill the breach and according to expectations will be going strong in a day or two if called upon to do so. Local unionists are extremely reticent regarding the situation and appear to be wholly in the hands of their executive.