FLAXMILL WORKERS' DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 219, 10 June 1919, Page 6

FLAXMILL WORKERS' DISPUTE

DEADLOCK REACHED EMPLOYERS REFUSE TO SIT WITH MILITARY DEFAULTER By Telegraph—Special Correspondent. Palmorston North, Juno 9. A deadlock has been reached in connection with tho negotiations between the Now Zealand Flaxmillors' Association and tho Manawatu Flaxmill Workers Union relative to tho drafting of a new agreement governing tho wages of flasmill workers. A conference was mutually decided upon, but ut tho last moment the parties were unablo to get together to discuss the proposed agreement on account of tho union naming as one of its delegates a man whose name appears in the proscribed list as a military defaulter. TJie employers asked the'linion' to . appoint another man in his place, otherwise they would not meet them, but the union refused to ac'codo to the request. ■■ The employers nro equally as adamant, and thero the matter stands.

Decision of the Union. At a meoting of tho union held to consider, the matter, the following motion was carried Wo maintain the principle of our unfettered.; right to choose our own representatives without any direct or indirect dictation on tho part of tho employers. (2) The member objected to has already suffered two years' imprisonment for his breach of the Military Servico Act, and is now disfranchised for ten years. We object to the notion that it is competent for any body of private persons to add to the punishment deemed to he sufficient by the authorities, and provided by statute. If a 6tand is not taken on this point, the discrimination regarding employment would naturally follow, thus converting a two-year sentence 'into an indeterminate one at the discretion of any responsible employer."

The Employers' Viewpoint. Interviewed to-day regarding the matter. Mr. .R. ,T. Bell, of the New Zealand Floxmillers' Asociation, stated that so far as he know the executive of the association was very firm in its intention not to back down from the stand it had- taken. At the same time, - Mr. Bell pointed out that there was no illfeeling on the part of tho employers in the matter, but they were not agreeable to eit in conference with a man ■whose name had, appeared on the proscribed list as a military defaulter.' It was a great pity that the point had arisen, as his believed that had a conference been Kold nn agreement acceptable to both parties, would have very .likely been fixed up. Mr. Bell added that he thought the union was making a great mistake in refusing to accedo to the employers wishes and appoint another man in the place of the man objected to. His noninclusion could not be held to affect the conference, nor could it bo. said that the union, -would have any difficulty in appointing a substitute thoroughly competent to tn.ke bis scat at the,conference. The Faxmillers' Association was not, as the union suggested, attempting to dictate to the men. It was merely a mattor affecting the. employers' feelings ns citizens. It was a very' delicato matter with all of them, especially as a number of them had lost relatives at tho front, to ask them to'sit in conference with a military defaulter. . That being tho caso, the -union should respect tho feelings of. those who had been bereaved, and replace the delegate j in Question. The last decision of tho executive was not to give way on tho point, and that this atthido would be maintains!.