DROVERS' UNION AND A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9116, 16 June 1908, Page 5

DROVERS' UNION AND A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

(To the Editor). Sir,— Referring to your report this morning of the meeting of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, I notice that the subject of the Drovers' Union was brought up. One speaker referred to the obstructive attitude of the drovers, and asserted that the farmers should consider themselves as defendants in the Conciliation Board proceedings now pending as they are the persons who would eventually suffer and not the auctioneers or meat companies. It is a question whether the farmers have not suffered already; not, however, at the hands of the drovers but from the auctioneers and stock agents, and the proposed proceedings may bring to light some queer facts in this respect. As to the obstructive attitude of the drovers let us see what are the facts. The Union invited certain employers to meet delegates of the Union in conference with a view to the adoption or modification of an industrial agreement proposed by the Union. The conference was held, £md the employers one and all absolutely refused* to consider or even read the agreement. They passed a resolution as follows:—"That this meeting be dissolved on the understanding that the employers meet a deputation of drovers to settle matters on a fair and reasonable oasis as between themselves outside of any industrial agreement, and if such settlement is arrived at the registration of the Union to be cancelled." Let those interested carefully note the concluding words-;of this resolution. The condition of any arrangement was to be cancellation of the registration. This cold comfort was all the drovers got from the conference. An absolute bar was set up to further negotiation unless the Union was prepared to commit suicide. Now where is the obstructive attitude? Certainly not on the pait of the drovers They are now as before willing to discuss and arrange matters in a friendly way, but they are not going with bended knee to their employers to sue for a living wage.—l am, etc., R.* K.JACKSON, Solicitor to the Union.