FLAXMILL DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1377, 1 March 1912, Page 2

FLAXMILL DISPUTE.

SAT/SFACTOMLYSETTI.ED. .. The committee of the New Zealandl'la.\v irilleis' \sr--jciatioii and the delegates or the Mana.vatu I'lax Employees Umon met at Palnicrston North on Tuesday, with Mr I , Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, ir "tlio chair. The chief question in regard to the claims put forward by tho union was the matter of a minimum.rate for flaxeuttin:;. . The following is the basis of settlement: Weighing. (a) Provides that in respect to all flax shall be weighed, and that weights and weighing slnul be available to cutters or then- representatives as fmu August 1, vm. . . . .■ (Ij) In ca=es where a river is to ;e crossed the mill shall be considered tho ham he:v.l. Kate to be I'aid for Cutting. (a) The minimum rales.to be is. fld. per ton for cut flax. . (li) Cutting (lax shall mean and include cutting, tying, carrying, and stacking at a convenient pla:e for loading on trucks or drays. General. fa) In the emit of flax being cut more Hum one and a half chains from the tram, the cutter shall carry it to the one and a half chains mark, and there -tack it. The ompiiwr shall provide labour for carrying the flax the additional Tb) When flax is carted the miller shall provide labour for the necessary labour for roads. Jii tho event of flax drays bein? stuck Mii-ing extra carrying or reloading, then the cutter bhiill be paid for time lost. (c) -No employee shall be compelled to. board ;it tho i-nok-hoilM , . 11l ca-es where married men board at the cook-house an allowance slnll be made fur every day they iira absent, provided that '1\ hours' notice is given of their intention of being absent. (d) When trams have been laid cullers shall not be allowed to load the flax on trucks. ((■) Kxcept where otherwise provided this agreement shall be read in conjunction with and concurrent with an award , of the Court, dated March l(i, 1010, and 1 shall come into operation on March 7, 1012. (f) The term of this agreement shall expire on the same dale us that decided by the Court on fixing the date of expiration of the aforementioned award of March 31. 1010, namely March 31, 11)13. Tho ngroeiiioiit was signed vpslerd.iv. Mr. president uf 'the Fhixniill Workers' I'nioni states in respect to one aspect of the above di.-pute that in one sivanip the cutters were paid so much per ton, but the weighing as for as they were concerned was guesswork, whilst the trammen were paid on actual weight, so that cases frequently arose whore (.utters supplied overweight to the tram-men unknowingly, and the bitter got full credit for evi-rv iio-itic]. Mr. Dalhou'-ie wishes it made <-lrar Hint tlii> -hit.' of filing mily exi-ted in one swamp.