"TWO-UP" AT THE FLAX MILLS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 March 1914, Page 2

"TWO-UP" AT THE FLAX MILLS.

■ (To the Editor J. Sir, In Hourly every paper y«u pick up now-a-days you see an account of a raid on Chinese pak-i!-])i)ii. I think, and oilier with me, that it would not he out of place for the police to turn their attentions lo a very μ-rave evil in our midst; 1 refer to "two-up" schools which abound round the ihixmills in the Manawatu. Every Saturday until Monday mornings these schools are in full swing , , and hundreds of young fellows--boys, in fact are ''taken down" for their wag-os by a set of harpies who make it a business to live on these "mug's." The modus operandi is these men come along and work (say) a week or so and tlien make a "haul" and ff g-et. The other day one of these rooks look £180 for one Sunday's work. T, for one, cannot understand the flaxmill owners indifference to tin's state of affairs. It is to my mind criminal; they know this exists, and make no effort to stop i<. The consequence to them is the men arc in a state of impe••"niosity, and of course are ripe for the agitator when he comes "Ion*?. T think, Mr Editor, if (he Christians of the district were in Inrn a little more of their attention to these illegal frames, and leave the hotels alone, it would be much more to their credit. The apathy of the mill-owners for the well-being- of their employees is something- to be wondered a<. They will not consider any scheme lor the brightening- of their men's jives. I knoAV of many schemes that have been put before different owners, but their interest in ths men ceases whon the Avhistle. blows in the afternoon..— J am, etc., ONLOOKEK. Shannon, March 17fh, 1914.