THE FLAXMILLS DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 234, 27 June 1919, Page 10

THE FLAXMILLS DISPUTE

FC-XTON MILLS CLOSED AGAIN. By Telegraph—Special Correspondent. Palmerston North, June 26.

Fresh developments have occurred in connection with the flaxmills dispute, the miKa in the Foxton district, which had recommenced operations, . having again closed down, by order of the union. Interviewed at Palmerston, Mr. P. T. Robinson, secretary of the union, stated that tho Foxton,'millers got the men to commence work (for the reduced scale of wages offered by the iSiew Zealand Flaxmillers' Association, on the understanding that if the conference to bo held between the millers and the,men fixed a higher rate of pay this would bo made retrospective in their case, so that they would not be losers. It was, however, explained to tho men'on behalf of, the union thnt the millers themselves had broken off negotiations and that there was no likelihood of a cor.forence taking place; there was, therefore, according to the union, no real guarantee after all that they would receive this bach pay. The men at Foxton had accordingly knocked off work. The position now is, according to Mr. Robinson,, that the union is solid to q man in its intention not to turn to unless its demands are acceded to by'the association. At Hie present,time the only mills operating are those sit which the men's demands have been acceded to. Actually' only_three mills are working."'J'hev are Loughnan's mill at Makcnia. M'Mmray's mill at Foxton, and Jarvis's at Kairanga. Ail these mills are paying the minimum of Ms. per day. Referring to the employers' statement that short of a conference the only other .solution was for tho .dispute to no to the Arbitration Court, the union officiols slate that the flnxv.wkei's have ni\ hope of getting anything from the Arbitration Court, and tttev accordingly are going to steer clear of it.