ANGRY FLAXMILLERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1828, 14 August 1913, Page 5

ANGRY FLAXMILLERS.

"TAKING OFF THE GLOVES."

CHARGES & "PAID AGITATORS."

A deputation of Mnnawatu members of the Now Zealand Flax-millers' Association waited upon the Prime Minister in his capacity as Minister for, Labour .yesterday morning in order to reply to the statements which were made lust week by tho deputation of Manawutu llax-mill workers in regard to accommodation and other matters in connection with tin) Manawatu mills. There were present; Me.ws. Jv. L. Broad, L. Seifcrt, It.-T. Bell, G. Craw, und A. A. Brown. Tho deputation was introduced by Mr. D. Buicli, and Messrs. (juthrie und Kobert»on, M.l'.'s, wero also present.

Mr. liroad said that the millers took strong exception lo Ihe remarks made by the employees' deputation last week; Hie charges proceeded from paid agitators. Tho statements that had Ijeen made worfl most unfair and the millers felt that tho tinio had come when they must take olf tlio gloves. It had been stated that ono miller had spent hundreds of pounds in erecting stables for his horses, whilst ho lieglectod to provide accommodation for his men. The fact was, however, that this mill was within tho mile limit of a town, ship and therefore the miller was not required. to provide acoommodation for tho men. It was not a fact that a worker 1 had been victimised, as stated by a member of last week's deputation. . Tho millers objected to the men being allowed to, appoint a chock 1 inspector unless'the employers wero allowed a similar privilege, They did not see why tho (lax-milling industry should be subjected to' more harassing restrictions than other agricultural industries. Mr. Broad referred at length ta tho complaints regarding tho lack of proper sanitary conveniences. Ho said that, tho millers wero doing their lx>st in this matter, but that somo of tho men were hampering their efforts by their conduct. - • •

II r, Seifort, who spoke in reference to n 'enso of fovcr that had occurred at his mills, said that he hod been employing men for fourteen years, and he had had only one mild ease of fever in (hat time?. It was not the workers. who were complaining— ninety per cent of them woro first-closs men—hut the paid agitator,?, whose business it was to go round nnd stir up strife. The flax-milling industry, despite the,fact that it'.woA .chrricd oil in low, swampy country, wus as healthy as any other industry in tho Dominion. Ho wus quite satisfied with his men and UU per ceiit of them were as good as any men who could ,l» got in any, part of tho world. He objected to tlioso wno were interfering and trying to stir tip strife. ' Slr. llell said that the men as a body had not made any charge. The chargca were made by tho paid agitators. , Dealing with . the complaint that- 'tho- ■ men were charged l(is. Gd. a week, instead of 155., Tor their board,-he said that if they tho townships they would havo to pay at least 18s. a week. In providing accommodation for 15s. a week tho millers had lost money. '

Sir. Craw spo'no on tho water 6uppl,v question. He suggested that the union should appoint a representative at each mill to assist the employer in maintaining satisfactory sanitary conditions.

Mr. liobertson, M.P., referred to. tho, remarks concerning paid agitators, and said that only one member of tho men's deputation was paid for - his services to the union. Ho thought that >Inoro< cooperation between the. two parties, was needed and said ho would do his .best to bring about such co-operation.

Tho Prims Minister- said that it was always well to hear Ixtlh sides of a question. His course was perfectly ..clear. He had already Kiv<>n instructions', for an inspector to bo appointed to givo'thc whole of his time to the Manawatu flaxmilling district.' He had been there for a fortnight, and his report would be sul>niitteil monthly. Tho inspector would not be subject to influence from cither side, but would be perfectly independent, and his business'would .bo to. seo.that tho regulations were complied with.- Ho wna quite sure that what'had been "said that day would lend to a ntoro satisfactory condition of affairs, as far as tho flaxmilling industry was concerned.