PETONE MILL WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2736, 3 April 1916, Page 6

PETONE MILL WORKERS

COLLECTING FUNDS.

Two meetings organised by thoPetone Woollen Mill AYorkers' Union were held in tbe city yesterday—one in the afternoon in the Post Office Square, and the other in the Alexandra Hall last night. Tin? chairman at the afternoon meeting was Mr. J. M'Kenzie, president of the Trades Council, and at the evening meeting Mr. H. Holland. The object of the meetings was to make an appeal for'funds to enable the_ workers to continue what they term their "holiday." The speakers at tho meetings were Mr. A. Anderson, president of the union; Mr. E„ Kennedy, secretary; Mr. Harry Holland; and four women employees at the mill—Miss Foster, Miss A.' Senior, Miss E. Henwood, and Mrs. Kent. They spoke of tho circumstances leading up to their quar-' rel' with their employors, and insisted upon the justice of their claim for in, creased wages. Incidentally, they all challenged the accuracy of the amount's quoted in tho employer*' statement purporting to be the ruling rates of wages actually earned in the mill. One speaker declared that there were girls in tho mill "receiving only 16s. a week, and another, herself a girl with five years' service, earning 275. 6d. per week, said that some earned as little; as 10s. per week. At both meetings the audiences were sympathetic. MEETING OF WORKERS. An open-air meeting was, held al the corner of Sydney and Jackson Streets, l'etone, and addressed by several speakers, yesterday, on behalf of the woollen mill, workers. It was intimated that' next Sunday afternoon the w.aterside workers would hold a monster "demonstration on tho recreation ground. As the result of a collection the fund will benefit to the extent of about £5. '