CHEAP LABOUR AND PAPERLINED BAGS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10561, 17 February 1912, Page 5

CHEAP LABOUR AND PAPERLINED BAGS.

[To The Editor.'] Sir, — The explanation of Mr Hugh Morrison, President of tbe Masterton A. and P. Associ;U>on, will hardly abate the "storm in a teacup'" .-.xcited by the remarks <naclo at the recent meeting of the General Committee. He tells us that the reference to abolishing the Chinese poll-t.ix and flooding the country with cheap labour was not intended to be fieriously. No doubt it was a huge joke, but at whose expense? At a time when labour is trying to rectify some of its wrongs, jokes of this nature are apt to 'be mistaken for threats. It sounds very -much like: : "See what we would do, if we .only had the power." But the circular of the Dunedin Stock Agents in reference to the demand of the Waterside "Workers' Union regarding manures was no joke. It was taken seriously. A resolution was unanimously passed: ".That the Committee is of opinion , that the Waterside Workers' Union's ' request is ah absurd one, and is wili ling to support the Dunedin Wool | and Grain Brokers' Association in { any action it may take in the matjter." There is no beating about the bush in thjs resolutioin. For what are the waterside workers contending? They have just succeeded in their efforts to get cement carried in paper-lined bags, so- that they may not run the risk of 'being' converted, into pillars of concrete. ; Is the demand manure; should be treated vJn. a similar way , "absurd" ? If the Realth'and livesof '''workers are com--1 promised by semi-suffocation due to the inhalation in a ship's hold of dust of a disgusting or dangerous nature, are their efforts to secure more wholesome conditions of work to be called ''absurd," and resisted? Did the officers of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association make themselves.acquainted with the circumstances before passing their resolution? After all, our pastoralists are not such a. lofty remove above the wage-earners who handle their manure, and they might treat their requests with consideration. To threaten them with Coolie or Chinese labour and call their efforts'."absurd" when they are only endeavouring to protect their lives is not the way to conciliate labour. I know it will be said that I am' trying to make political capital out of the attitude of our pastoral-; ists. J am doing nothing of the kind. I recognise the value of our, farmers, big and little; I want to < see town and country associated in harmony, and my object in asking our prosperous landowners to be a little cautious with their language and resolutions in dealing with tne requests or representations of the workers, is to promote that friendship and good feeling without which no industrial operations can be successfully carried out.— I am, etc., A. W. HO&O.