ARBITRATION BILL

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1927, Page 3

ARBITRATION BILL

C (By Telegraph—Per Press Association,

PAHIATUA, Xov. 11. Directors of Pallia tun Farmers Asso- ' eiation have forwarded a telegram to the Prime Minister Trade union i secretaries and Employers’ Federation employees do not speak for farmers. AVe challenge the statement made by Bishop to the effect that farmers are an ignorant rablde who cannot speak for themselves. W’e are looking to you for definite leadership and respectfully request you to push the Arbitration Amendment Bill through the House ■this session. Farmers present enndi- ** are rotten.” It is reported that local suppliers to Hopelanda Hairy Coy. despatched a telegram to the Premier urging Cabinet to proceed with the Arbitration Act Amendment Bill. At Paliiatua Farmers’ Snleyards Association Directors’ meeting, the Chairman, Mr Dan O’Brien, said farmers should be on the look-out, for they would be snowed under by those whose interests were directed in keeping the . primary producer tied down to his * form. He said the fact that evidence was being given before the committee which was to report to Parliament on the bill, was being heavily weighted ' , against the farming community by -XV ■■*«. union secretaries and Employers secretaries, and by others "who it was alleged, had nxes to grind. Strong exception was taken by the meeting to the fact that Mr Bishop, Secretary of the Wellington Employers Association, had been permitted to give evidence no less than three times. If this sort of thing was being permitted, said Mr O’Brien, it » hf time we farmers made our weight felt. ' If we did not there is no doubt but that the Bill would he so badly mutilated that'it would be useless.