N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 48, 22 March 1909, Page 3

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

TARAXAia PROVINCIAL EXECCTIVE. A meeting of the Taranaki Provincial Executive of the Xew Zealand Farmers' Union was held on Thursday. The Dominion Secretary" (Mr E. C. Jack) advised that tile Dominion levy for the ensuing year had been fixed at 2s per member. The Chairman asked -Mr Sim if there had been any reply to the Executive's enquiry as to the deliniliuu of "plank live/' discussed at the previous meeting. —-Mr Sim : Xo, nothing. IMMIURATIOX.

' 'The llominion Secretary liatimated that the Dominion Executive had decided to ask the various provincial executives to supply some definite information as to the demand for farm labourers and domestic servants in their respective provinces, with a view to co-oper-ating Willi the central unemployed body for London in procuring the light class of immigrants, and nraiiigiiig for employment on their arrival. Air Forsyth opined that it was not always the best workmen who were out of work. The Chairman said ho believed we could provide for an unlimited number of 'domestic servants. But it was hard to say oil-hand what was the individual demand fur labour.

-Mr Lambie said c more thai labour

was employed the mole it was In demand. There was work for everybody, especially for good men. in the country. Mr Stevenson said the whole trouble lay at the door of the uuions, which said men were to get a certain wag, He instanced the fact that painters m Wellington were to get 10s 7d a day, although men were willing to work for 8s 9d.

Mr Allhusen : As soon as you talk about reducing the wages the cost of living is thrown in our teeth. Mr Stevenson replied that he was not advocating the reduction of wa";> What he meant was that a man would be better " working" at 8s per day taan he would be if he were looking for" work at 10s per day. Mr Lambie": That is quite right. Mr Davidson complained that people were drifting from the country to the larger towns, which helped to increase the ranks of the unemployed, with the result that the supply overran the natural demand of the town.

Mr Allhusen asked why those tradesmen requiring work did not go into the country.

Mr Forsyth : They cannot do it. The Chairman thought that the workers had been so used to what he termed "the feather-bed" system that they could not get away from it. Mr Forsyth said that as there was no proposal before the meeting in regard to town work there was no necessity to deal with it.

The Chairman said they were only concerned with agricultural labourers and domestics.

Mr Lambie : If this colony is to be saved from bankruptcy we must have a ,ei workers—workers, , 10 t loafers. He aMeTrVUiat no matter how good times were or how TTad'tuej n'Vre I we would always have a certain number of unemployed. lie was satislied tlwrc was abundant work for men in tiic country if they were willing to work for what they were worth. There was room for two or throe million in New Zealand ; the country wanted settling. This would create new industries and work.

The Chairman agreed, saying that if we had the men thousands of acres ol good bush could be felled annually. He believed that if a thousand men were landed in Taranaki they would lie employed, especially in the felling 0 f bush. After some further discussion Mr Forsvth moved :

"That the Executive be informed that there is a good demand for farm labourers, bushfellcrs and domestic servants in Taranaki at good wages.' Mr Lambie seconded the motion, which was carried without dissent. ORGANISATION.

The question of appointing an organiser was introduced, but it was resolved to defer consideration until next meeting. Meanwhile the secretary is to consider on what terms he will take up tlie work. It was also decided that the branch secretaries forward to the Provincial Secretary (Mr Sim) a list of members in time for next meeting.— Star.