Farmers' Union Conference

Horowhenua Chronicle, 27 May 1913, Page 3

Farmers' Union Conference

A STRONG RESOLUTION

(L'cr Press Association.) MASTERTON, This Day. The Farmers' Union Conference was opened this morning. Mr J. G. Wilson presiding. Mr Wilson moved, and it was seconded by Mr J. Birch, '"That this conference learns with dismay that there is a likelihood of an agreement being entered into between shipping companies and tin "Waterside "Workers' Union whereby free labourers are to be excluded from working on the wharves, and that the recently-formed Wharl "Workers' Union, at Timaru. is to be ignored by the parties to the agreement. This is such an unwarranted interference with the liberty of the subject and such a menace to the farming community that this conference protests against such an unhol\ alliance. The monopoly of shipping companies already is a danger and an expensive one to the community, but if a combination between them and wharf labourers is permitted they will be able to charge any freight or impose any charges, and practically prohibit any possible chance of a new lino of steamers being started to combat the present monopolyand that this resolution he forwarded to the Premier." FEDERATION OF LABOUR.

AUCKLAND, This Day. Mr Canhaiu, President of the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union, interviewed re a Christchurch telegram. says there lias been no suggestion of giving a monetary guarantee that the Federation men will carry out any undertaking they maj make. The matter, lie says, has not come up for consideration by tin executive of the* Federation of Labour. of which he is a member; and in any wise such a proposal would not have liis support. He regarded the disapproval by farmers of any suggestion to exclude free labour ..s quite natural under the circumstances ; lariners relied on surplus labour from the country at the present time to he available at the waterfront; one could hardly blame the labourer himself; iu»m must live; but farmers did not realise that the shipping companies could and would just as readily exploit the farmers as anybody.