FARMERS AND STRIKES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 450, 23 March 1912, Page 5

FARMERS AND STRIKES.

RESOLUIION BY FARMERS' UNION. Some discussion was raised at the meeting of the executive of the Farmers' Union at Auckland on Wednesday last respecting the action of the Union in the event of a strike among the waterside workers. Captain Colbeck deprecated the taking of any active part by the Union in the affairs of the city. The farmers were, not concerned in the quarrels of the city, and the Union had already met the waterside workers on a very friendly ground. Why then should they talk about fighting them just because trouble might arise between these workers and the people of the city? If it became a question of disorganising the railway traffic, or of any movement for the purpose of injuring the farmer, then, of course, they would have to act in self-defence but he was very much opposed to the doing of anything likely to cause unnecessary irritation among workers. The chairman (Major Lusk) also expressed the opinion that it was not the policy of the Farmers' Union to talk about conflict with the Waterside Workers' Union or any other union. If it came to a matter of self protection it would b? different. Mr J. E. Makgill disagreed to some extent from the opinion that the farmers should take no action whatever in regard to strikes. He considered that a general strike would affect them as much as anybody eke, and they should therefore be prepared to assist in the maintenance of jaw and order. He suggested that something in the shape of a farmers' manifesto should be issued, appealing to the workers generally to refrain from rej sortnig to the barbarous "strike'' i weapon, but to rely on more reasonable and amicable methods for the settlement of industrial disputes. The members present were somewhat divided in opinion on the question of issuing a manifesto, and the following resolution, moved by Mr A. A. Ross, was ultimately carried: — "That this Union has no wish or intention to interfere with any industrial strife that may arise, so long as it does not interfere with the farmers' business, but should the interests of farmers be menaced we reserve to ourselves the right to take such action as we deem necessary."