Direct Action Veto By Fanners

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 39, 16 February 1937, Page 10

Direct Action Veto By Fanners

ECHO OF FREEZING DISPUTE COMPENSATION FOR LOSSES PUKEKOHE, Feb. 13. A lively debate took place at the quarterly meeting of the Franklin subprovincial executive of the Farmers Union at Pukekohe yesterday on a motion by Messrs W. Moore and C. Hammond that, in tho event of any crisis arising that threatened sorious loss or disorganisation to the firming industry, the secretary should immediately telegraph branch secretaries to convene a special meeting of delegates within 24 hours, to decide what direct action should be taken to safeguard farmers' interests. Ultimately, an amendment by Messrs A. C. A. Sexton, M.P., and J. W. Robinson, was carried by a large majority. It was as follows: "That we protest against the freezing workers going on strike in face of tho Arbitration Court award then existing, und that, as tho Minister of Labour has taken it upon himself to override tho award, the additional cost involved be met out of tho Consolidated Fund, or else by payment to farmers of an increased price to compensate them." Some 60 delegates were present and many took part in tho discussion. In moving tho motion, Mr Moore said that in tho recent dispute the freezing workers’ union, although only a small body, had been able to hold a pistol at the heads of all tho farmers in the province and to threaten them with serious financial loss. Had the delicate machinery in the works been damaged during the men's illegal occupation, tho works would have been crippled until new parts had been obtained from overseas. The union should have tho organisation in readiness to act, to put the farmers’ produce into cool store, in the ovent of the men ever causing another deadlock. Should be East Resort This view found support from other speakers, it being contended that unless the union was prepared to take direct action it would be ineffective. Mr Robinson deprecated talk of direct action. "That should be a last resort, ’* he said. "Many things should come before direct action is thought of." Mr V. G. Pilcher: In this country wo have a constitution and the way to settle disputes is constitutionally. We do not settle troubles to-day with fisticuffs. Le us be the last to take up the cudgels of direct action. We are usually tho losers. Mr Hammond: Did the Minister refer the dispute to arbitrationt No, he took direct action. It is a farce. The Farmers' Union should have gono to the works with him. It was suggested that before the Farmers' Union took direct action membership should be compulsory for all farmers, to put it on the same basis as other unions. Another proposal was that a secret ballot of the members of a union should be compulsory before that union went on strike. One member detailed arrangements that had been made in this district for farmers who could be spared from the farms to go into Auckland to put produce into cool store during tho recent crisis had the necessity arisen. He claimed that the union should bo ready at all times. It would be too late when the crisis was upon it. In moving the amendment, Mr Bexton said he thought the motion unwise, unnecessary and most provocative Members of the union hod been in close touch with the Auckland provincial oxecutivo during the recent dispute. No warranty for interference by the union had arisen. A Voice: Pigs fell to 10s at Westfield. Town ▼. Country Feeling. Mr Sexton said the position was different from that which had arisen in 1913 Then the Government had called on tho farmers to act Mr H. A. Mellsop said that during the recent dispute the men had not moved to prevent other people putting produce in cool store. "If it had come to the stage where produce was being lost or destroyed, the Auckland executive would have acted, und acted quickly, too," declared Mr Sexton. "Even if you don’t approve, you have to abide by tho constitutional action that was taken." In reply to criticism of the provincial executive's inactivity in tho crisis, Mr Mellsop suid members should be thankful that the executive had had the’ backbone to sit quiet. I A member pointed out that nono of the advocates of direct action had defined what they meant by that term. Mr A. Best: The union took direct action in 1913 and it raised a town v. country feeling, which is only now dying. A Voice: And if we make another false move now, it will take another 20 years for the feeling to die. Tho chairman, Mr A. White, said that while it hod been published that some of tho meu earned as much as 9s an hour on occasions, the average earnings for tho year had not beeu given. Ho believed they made only an ordinary living, and their work was hard and far from pleasant, lie was definitely opposed to talk of direct action. The Minister of Labour cculd not have handled the position better than ho did. Only two or threo voices were heard against tho amendment when it was put to tho vote, but tho aflirmativo voices were la big volumo,