FARMERS’ PROBLEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1922, Page 5

FARMERS’ PROBLEMS.

THE AUCKLAND CONFERENCE. PREFERENCE TO UNIONISTS. ABOLITION FAVORED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The Farmers’ Conference adopted the remit that preference to- unionists should be abolished. The mover, Mr. S. Hodge, said the advocates of abolition had no idea of reducing wages below the cost of living, as that would mean a curtailment of purchasing power, and be injurious to business. Preference had greatly increased the cost of production, owing to reduced efficiency and increased wages. If it were right that the workers should dictate who should be employed, it was logical they should have the right to dictate how business should be carried on. Men who did not want to join the union were compelled to do so. They took no interest in the union, and the control fell into the hands of the extremists. Mr. F. Colbeck advocated a temporary suspension of the Arbitration Court, to allow the employers and workers to get together and make equitable adjustments. The court was fixing wages that employers could not pay, resulting in unemployment. Mr. W. Furness said the adoption of the remit would mean open war against uni onism. Abolition of preference would mean the destruction of unions, and enable men to undersell their labor and force down the standard of living. The farmer would be the first to suffer, as the consumptive power of the community would be reduced. He declared that farmers vere being used by exploiting interests to smash unionism.

Mr. A. A. Ross said that in Canada and America, where preference did not exist, wages were higher than in the Dominion, while the output of the workers in America, in consequence, was higher than in British countries. The unions were strong enough to get what they desired without preference.

Mr. J. Stallworthy said the one evil of preference was that the employer was afraid to increase the wages of a good worker, as by doing so he supplied grounds for union demands for an all-round increase.

The president, Mr. Duxfield, said no exception would be taken to preference if used in the right way and only efficient men were kept in the union. The unions allowed slackers and inefficients to rule, with the result that preference was abused and discredited.

The conference passed a resolution approving the main roads policy of the Minister.

A remit that the Government be requested to pass legislation to bripg all endowment reserves under the freehold tenure, as at present they, are a harbor for noxious weeds and rabbits, aroused considerable discussion. An amendment was adopted that the Government be requested to bring all unused endowment reserves exceeding 25 acres under the freehold tenure, the money accruing from the sales to be invested for the purpose of an endowment. The following remits were adopted:— That the Government be urged to have supervisors on the various wharves of the Dominion, to see that their goods receive fair treatment. That the Acclimatisation Society be asked to lift the protection from Californian quail. That some form of reciprocity in regard to old, age pensions between the Dominion and other parts of the Empire be arranged That all farm seeds sold to farmers should go out with a certificate as to the percentage of germination and purity. That the conference endeavor to bring the primary producers together, with a view to co-operating in marketing. That the executive take early steps to endeavor to bring co-operative companies together to discuss co-operation in business. That the conference take immediate practical steps to bring about the overdue improvement in the handling of primary products on the waterfronts, that as the delays in the unloading from ships of New Zealand produce in British ports is detrimental to the producers’ best interests. The Dominion executive is to be urged to take such steps as are thought fit to prevent delays. The conference also carried a remit that the Government be urged to pass legislation giving the public the right to be heard in applications for awards at the Arbitration Court.