A DECISION REGRETTED

Wairarapa Age, 14 February 1927, Page 5

A DECISION REGRETTED

FARMERS AND THE FREEZING DISPUTE. ► — RIGHT TO APPEAR IN COURT REPLY TO MB. J. MILNE. In an official statement, the Wairarapa Provincial President of the Fanners’ Union made-the following comments upon <he claim "by the chairman of the Associated Freezing Companies (Mr. J. Milne) that the freezing companies wished to co-operate wholeheartedly with the farmers:— *‘At a special meeting to consider farmers’ representation, held at Palmerston North on December 28, it was felt that the freezing companies had been far from successful in their Arbitration Court battles, and Mr. W. J. Polson was asked to undertake the farmers’ portion of the case. "It may be pointed out that on the ether side as many a» three counsel have appeared for the freezing work- ■ ers in the past. "The application to have Mr. Polson recognised as junior counsel has keen persistently refused by the chairman of the Associated Freezing Companies. * 1 Having had to bear the brunt of the strike, farmers take great interest in the terms of peace. It is the unfortunate lot of the farming community to pay for other peoples’ blunders; pttorwise no one would cavil at the association chairman’s attitude, and the freezing companies would he permitted to carry through in their own fashion. "The refusal to allow the Dominion President to appear as assistant counsel before the Court on behalf of the union is viewed with alarm by the producers. The whole Dominion is interin a clear statement of the producers’ economic position before an unbiased Court. The ability of the Dominion President is widely recognised, and it is to be regretted that by the decision of the chairman of the Freezing Companies’ Association, the farmers are denied direct representation and the right to address the Court.” -