FLAX HANDS & EMPLOYERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1472, 21 June 1912, Page 7

FLAX HANDS & EMPLOYERS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.! Paim'erston, Jun* 20. A deputation from the Flaxmill Workers' Union wailed on tho Now Zealand riaxmilkrs' Association o'xeeurivo this, afternoon to lay before it a resolution, carried at a special meeting of the union about six weeks a»o, pointing out that tho present system of paddockmg by piecework was inequitable in regard to wages paid and earned. By the present system one individual or more obtained the work, and. employed one or two men to assist him by day wages. These men performed equal work to the man who took the piece contract, yet he made from twenty- to twenty-five shillings per day, while" he only paid his assistants nine or ten shillings per day. The deputation asked that not lei's than two men should share in the piecework for each stripper running with special provision fui every mill where more than two strippers were running. Mr. Broad, acting president of tho Flaxmillers' Association said that the deputation was asking them to protect the working man from the greeci of others, and ho did not think that they should need that protection. However, the association would carefully consider tho matter, and let them know. Ho emphasised the excellent relations which existed between the millers and worker-.' associations, and said that they had met them regarding cutting, and "were only too pleased to consider aiivthing that they brought before (liein. ' J'hov, however, wnnfed to know wli ether thev were going to act quite fairly with them! Why had they not approached the New Zcalunil Association regarding accommodation, instead of going to the Government? Also while they were themselves in the Arbitration Court they had affiliated with the Federation ot P«lmeHton North, which would not come under Hie Arbitration Court in rc-peel to its agreement. This was iueumistent with the profusion-:.

Mr. brown. appeai-nig for the Win] en' Union, sii'u] that u vciv important t>i-jjfMi] niM-ljitg dl' the >vn- to lie held lii-ri! on Saturday, July -7, and Mir mi'-ii uViivil tin- inil'li'is lu facilitate :, 'hiil attendance bv "ivinc (lie whole holiday in-dead ol' a hiilf day. Mr. Brand inlimaivd dial flto millers would do this. Mr. Brown e.-pre--ed ino-l rordia! appreciation of I lie imiiwrr in which they had been liiet, and of tin? relations between the association and Iho union.