INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 19797, 22 February 1928, Page 3

INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE

FARMERS' UNION PROTEST UNFAIR REPRESENTATION LETTERS TO BRANCHES. The following letter has been sent to all provincial presidents of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union : On behalf of the committee set up to deal with the matter, I desire to draw the attention of provincial executives to the proposed conference to be held in Wellington on March 27 next to discuss the I.C. and A. Act. This conference, at which the Prime Minister will preside, will consist of twenty-five representatives of Labor, and twenty-five representatives of employers, in addition to the I arliamentary Committee, and a number of Departmental officials. It is felt by your committee that the proposed representation is so grotesque and unfair that a'protest not only by the central executive, but by every province should bo rondo at once. In the first place _ labor unions of all descriptions are given full and adequate representation at the conference as follows:

Employees’ Reprcsontatioiv—i wentyfive members, to -Lo divided amongst the following;—Alliance of Labor, Trades and Labor Councils, Rural Workers, Unregistered and Unaffiliated Unions. It will lie noticed that even rural workers are to have representation. The New Zealand Farmers’ Union represents the gfeat bulk of the farmers of New Zealand. H is the only organisation of the dairy farmer except a dairy farmers’ provincial organisation in Manawatu; which is working in complete harmony with the Fanners’ Union, yet this union is not asked to send one dairy farmer delegate. On the contrary the National Dairy Association, now a trading organisation, together with the South Island Dairy Association, is handed the right of appointing the whole delegation in conjunction with the Manufacturers’ Association whom _ it most closely resembles and not displace the bona fide organisation of the dairy farmers. But the position in regard to sheepfarmers’ representation is even worse than in regard to dairy farmers. The Farmers’ Union representing probably ten times the number of sheep owners represented by any other organisation in Now Zealand decided at last Dominion Conference that it is a waste of time to ask for the abolition of the I.C. and A. Act because of the powerful influences in favor of its retention and that tho best method is to seek its drastic amendment. It will astonish members to learn that no representation is given to the union for its sheep owner memhers but that five delegates are allowed the Shcepownors’ Federation which, though favoring tho abolition of the Act, is opposed to the policy of the union. This union not only goes unrepresented, hut full representation is allowed a body which is opposed to its policy. There can be no justification for such an action as this.

The Fanners’ Union, indeed, has been given no official stains at all at tho coming conference, although full status is given to even unregistered and unaffiliated unions on the Labor side. It has, however, been allowed to nominate the delegates for “ agricuXuraJ farmers” (wheat growers, etc.). It certainly docs represent the wheat growers, but the bulk of its members arc sheep and dairy farmers, and if it is logical to give it representation on behalf of wheat growers it is equally logical to provide similar representation for tho dairy farmers and sheep farmers who are members of this union, and who constitute close on 20,000 of its active mepihers.

It is, of course, doubtful whether such a conference as is proposed will he of any great value. Your committee feels that a Commission of qualified men would give far better results, hut whatever value the conference may have will he largely destroyed if the representation is so grossly unfair as that laid down in the official circular. It is probably impossible to obtain any amendment of the representation now, but a very united protest should be made by all provinces to the committee and to the Prime, Minister regarding the unfair allocation of farming representatives for the National Industrial Conference. —For the Committee, yours faithfully, AY. J. POLSON, President.