UNIONISM AND THE FARMERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2817, 2 August 1890, Page 6 (Supplement)

UNIONISM AND THE FARMERS.

TO THK EDITOR. Sin,—Now that unions of almost every class are the order uf the day would it not or. well for tbo farmers to institute something of tho sort for themselves in selfdefence? In the Herald of Saturday, l'.lth inst, will be seen the demands made by the Slaughter-men's Union. Wages are demanded beyond the power uf the masters to grant, without considerably raising the pi ice of meat to the consumer, t'3 10s a week is demanded fur managers of branch shoos, £3 for foremen or first shopmen, £2 10s for second shopmen, assistant shopmen £2 os, .small goods men, first hand £3, second £2 10s, and assistants £2 ; and so on, tho wages of all men engaged in any way in the butchering business oeing fixed in a proportionately high scale. Apprentices to be bound for four years, tho wages to be 12s, £1, £1 7s (id and £1 15s per week for first, second, third and fourth years respectively ; overtime, first hands, Is til per hour, second Is 3d, and apprentices Is. But perhaps tho heaviest of all demands are those for killing, viz., 3s per head for killing cattle, (Id for sheep, and Is (id for pigs and calves, A master butcher in town told me that if these demands were enforced a great rise in the. price of meat would be the immediate result. When asked how this would affect the farmers be said they would not get a better price, but at the same time he expressed the opinion that tho producers in th?ir own interests must form a union, and that without delay. "We cannot," he said, "do without the farmers, we must look to them for our supplies and if they combine they can demand and receive a higher price for their produce." He did not apply this particularly to beef and mutton winch cannot be held back trom low markets as easily as wheat and potitoes, but to produce in general. The proposed rise in the price of bread —when wheat only brought 2s (id a bushel—and the demands of the butchers fwr such high wages suggest the idea that the time has come for farmers to look after their own interests. It must be borne in mind that these unions are not standing each one alone, they have, or are about to, afhliate with each other, so that, the system of boycotting which wiil to a coitainty ensue upon an employer falling out with even one man ot tho union can be carried to perfection. So far as regulating the scale of wages is concerned tho labouring man is master of the situation, and it is plain to everyone that the cost of living will very soon be greatly increased. As to the best means of securing a portion of the enhanced price of produce, that will be a matter for the farmers to consider and decide upon. I see by Tnu Waikato Timi:s that Mr Shepherd of Whatnvhata has taken the initiative in this matter and it is to be hoped be will get such assistance from the farmers of Waikato as will bring it to a successful issue. 1 do not know what the ruling price of beef per 100 lbs is as tho weekly market reports are not reliable always, but tho following are the retail prices for I got them from one of the butchers, and I pay tho price mentioned for joints of beef and mutt.n: — Sirloin, 5d ; ribs, Id ; rump steak, 7d ; beef steak, 5d ; boiling beef, 2.1; breast cuts, 2d ; corneil round, -Id ; suet, 4 1 : (1 forgot to get the price of ordinary corned beef, but it will not be less than 3:1); mutton, leg, I.'.d ; loin, -Id ; shoulder, S.'.d ; forequarter, 2.W ; chops, rn. The wholesale prices which butchers who buy from the Freezing Company pay, are as follows: — Carcases, mutton, 2U\ ; hind-quarter, beef, 2;4d ; fore-quarler, IVI ; and at that price one in in told me there was not a great deal in it owing to having to ent off so much bone, but if I mistake not butchers weigh the piece and cut the bone olf afterwards, that is my experience, and it is only failthat they should do si. Now it tho Freezing Company cm sell at these prices the fanner must get considerably less for the Compjny must make a profit. The plan suggested by a master butcher was that tho farmers should combine and get a site for a slaughter-yard, with suitable paddocks adjoining, s:ud their sheep and cattle down and have them killed on their own account (good men to lie in charge to manage the business, keep the accounts, &c, and sell the moat to the butchers), each man would then get tho best price obtainable, besides the value of the offal, which is a large item in the value of a bullock or sheep. That some steps are necessary in the farming interests is plain, and the sooner they move in tho matter the better it will be for the producers. But whatover may be tho course adopted perfect unanimity must obtain, not merely among Waikato men, but throughout the colony. The hardest worked class of men m the country get the poorest pay. They work twelve and fouiteeu hours a day, and at the end of the year do not clear as much as a butcher boy can, who, unlike the farmer, has no capital invested. What with a high protective tariff necessitated by the unscrupulous dishonesty and extravagance of our legislators, in order to pay interest and salaries, and extra cost of living, which will ensue, owing to the inordinate demands of unionists, the position is not particularly cheerful just now, and if everyone else who works is going to give himself a rise in wages, the man who works the hardest of all, bo-sides ha 1 ing cipital sunk in his business, should try to get himself a rise also. I hope Mr Shepherd will get the support and assist nice he deserves for taking the lead in such an important matter. —I am, ynur>. etc., It. W. I loci IK. Auckland, July 10th., 1 .SIIO.