The Indignation Meeting

Manawatu Herald, 11 August 1898, Page 2

The Indignation Meeting

FLAX CONSERVATION. The meeting c illud by His Worship fchv: M-jy.u- a 1 the request of the flaxmillera to consider the action of the Assets Rm'd io directing the destruction ef (1 tx on the Motoa estate* was h^ld on Tuesday evening. The attend.; n.-M was one of the largest) we have ever witnessed in Foxton, the hall being full. Each speaker received the most attentive hearing and wa3 frequently ap» plauded. The meeting may be reckoned a very great success and will be of material assistance in securing attention from the Government, as it proved that the people of the district went heart and soul with the millers, and no wonder, the question being, as one speakar put if, " their bread and butter. His Worship the Mayor was in the chair, and on opening the meet ing said that they all knew the reason why this meeting had to be convened, and requested for each speaker, no matter on which side he spoke, an attentive hearing. He however thought that "the feeling was so very general that the speak ing would be all ou the one side. The purpose of the meeting conceraed every man, woman and child in the district, and ag it affected Foxfcon so it would affect the Colony as a whole. He was sure they had a good case to put before the Government, and aa the policy of the Liberal Government had been to put people on the land of the colony, as this agitation was also connected with the employment of labour, so he hoped the Government would give ibem the small assistance they sought. He directed attention to the leading article in that night's Manawatu Herald, a very valuable one, in which was shown how important the flax milling industry was in ih9 employment of labour, for whilst in the meat freezing business one hand was only employed for every £811 turned over, in the flax trade one hand was employed for every £50 produced. He gave further figures and said it was a strong point they had here to show to the Government, and he felt they had a right to insist on a consent being given to the petition presented to the Minister of Lands eighteen months ago. He reminded the meeting that list session a petition from the flax, millers was personally presented by himself to the Minister, asking that 2000 acres of flax land on the Motoa estate might be reserved, and to enoourage this being done the petitioners had offered, to show the bona fides of their application, to take such land on lease. This was good proof that the land was required for milling purposes. Last August iv a letter he had addressed to the Minister he pointed out how the destruction of flax was being carried out on this estate, and the evil effeots which would result from this action. The agitation was not simply that of flaxmillers, but the whole population of the town and district was with them. He thought that any deputa. tion that might be appointed by the meeting should be as large and as influential as possible, as more attention wa<» paid to numbers than was often credited. It would be remembered that when the first deputation went from the Borough Council to Sanson to interview the Manawatu County Council about the Wirokino Bridge their success was nothing, but when on the next occasion they met the Council, sup ported as they were in the deputation by a number of representative people they gained their point, and it was only, the other day that in conversation^ with the chairman of the County on^thig matter he admitted that it was the strength of the deputation which had secured the Council's assistance, as they felt assured that by the gentlemen taking the trouble to travel so far they had a real '

interest in the matter and deserved every consideration. As it wa3 with the Council so he thought, they would find it with tho Government. (Applause.) Mr Oswald Gardner then rose and said they were all aware of the large numbers of people who depended on the fiaxmilling industry. This business depended on the supply of the green leaf, and so the millers were dependent on the source from which the leaf was obtained. The largest area in this district from which flax could be obtained at a reasonable cost of carriage was on the Motoa estate, and it was their business to* night to see that it was preserved. It must not be thought that it was only the millers and their employees who were depending on this supply, but it was the grocer, the butcher, the draper, the blacksmiths, the carters and those dependant upon them who were also vitally interested •in this matter. The larga attendance hero to night was a sufficient proof of the interest all took in this subject. Everyone has heard that the flax is being grubbed on the Motoa estate, but few realised the immense quantity that has been destroyed, for hundreds and hnndreds of acres had been cut down and burnt during the last few years. Flax was now coming to an end and millers were already finding a difficulty in getting flax conveniently from there. If this, flax was destroyed not only would the mills be stopped but be made bold to say that seventy-five per cent of the population of the district would be idle. An average crop of flax yielded four tons of dressed fibre to the acre, and the Motoa estate received last month tho sum of nineteen shillings and sixpence per ton, which means a sum equal to £8 18s Od per acre which is more than the capital value of the land on which the flax grows. (Applause) It will be seen that we have thus already paid the full value of the land. His mill had cut 128 tons from this estate and would have paid for the produce of 81 acres of land £75, and other millers have paid uiore, for he knew of one firm who had paid £90 It has been stated in one of the Wellington papers that the Foxton people were attempting to teaob. the Assets Board their business, but it was not so, for they were going to the government for assistance and not to the Assets Board. He had waited on Mr Foster, the Manager of the Assets Board a week ago and he had then told him the policy of the Board was to clear the estate of flax. He had pointed out the difficulties which would beset the millers but Mr Foster had replied that it was not his business to do more than look after the interests of the estate. On the other hand, it had been the government's announced policy to find employment for working people, and i.fc will ba proposed that the government shall be asked to take over an area of 2000 acres from the Assets Board. The average area required of green flax to keep a mill going is from 150 to 200 acres and thus to keep the five mills going which are now taking flax from the estate it would require an area of 1000 acres. The mills turn out about 20 ton 3of dressed fibre a month, which costs to produce £10 a ton, so that the five mills expend in wages £200 a month each, or £1000 a month for the five, equalling an amount; of £12,000 a year put into circulation. As against this let us see what the colony would receive if this 1000 acres was put into grass. If the land would be capable of carrying one beast to the acre and it earned a pound a year, the total would ba only £1000 as compared with £12,000 secured by giving em ploy men t to labour, and surely this should be a strong inducement for the government to seriously consider the requests made to them. (Applause). The management of the estate was in first-class hands, but it should not be the policy of the government to make the estate pay in direct opposition to what is good for the colony. Were the flax trade wiped out there would be very little to support the class of workers who were employed in this trade. It was well-known that flaxmilling employs a class of unskilled labour, and is light work, for which it is difficult to find employment for He then moved " That the Government be requested to pass immediate legislation so that the flax land on the Motoa estate may be acquired and leased to the fiaxmillers in the district." He would point out that the flax land lies so low on this estate that it is only four or five feet above the sea level, though it is eighteen miles from the sea, and it was thus very difficult to drain and keep dry. As to the deputation he thought a large number was not necessary as he believed the Government would listen to argument and reason more than numbers. (Applause.) Mr A. King, a member of the firm of King and Baker, flaxmillers, seconded the resolution. On tha same being put to the meeting by the Mayor it was carried, with applause, unanimously. Mr P. Henneasy said he could not see his way to enlarge upon what Mr Gardner had said and what had appeared in the local paper, but he was sure of one thing that if the flax was wiped oat on the Motoa estate we might all put up our swags and *

— — ■——-« clear out. (Applause.) He moved, *' That this meeting desires to draw the attention of the Government to the fact that this application* is no new idea, as a petition signed by all lha fUxmillers in the district was presented last session by the Mayor of Fox ton, to the Minister of Lands. Also on the 9,h July, 1898, the , Mayor ajyain wrote to the Minister of Land 3 asking for a reply which up to that date had not been received," Mr Elmuod Odborne seconded the resolution. M: Gardner thought this resolution w:is not necessary as it was proposing wg should tell the Govern* tD?nt w? wore not springing a sur-pri.-w upon them. ' The Mayor explained why it was thought necessary to have some such resolution. Mr Thynns also supported the resolution, pointing out that we, were working in a cause that needed the co-operation and assistance of all we could >.?>u It was therefore neces* saiy :. ) a-sure them of the facts of tb« «:!-••. more especially as an article in :h . N w Zealand Times had sag* 4-g-ot .1 th it our action was the out* cxni of <he sudden rise in the price of iUx. Io was known that this was nothing of the sort as flax had continuously been purchased from the Motoa estate since the year 1889, and tha r< quest to conserve flax on the estate had been made eighteen month j ago when flax was at its lowest price. If these facia were made clear to those whose help we were seeking it would encourage them to render help which might h ivo be&n denied if it waa thought th -t present boom was the reason for th* outcry. He therefore hoped the • resolution would be carried. The Ray W Woollas declared that anybody who knew the government knew that we must use line upon linj. precept upon precept, with them, and unless the deputation was fully prepared with facts and figures Mr Seddon would turn the deputation out in his usual clever manner. We must send a deputation in numbers as no man was more susciptible to number as the Bt. Hon Mr Seddon. tie believes in numbers as they effect •he voting power at the elections. Ihis matter, he contended- meant bread and butter for the people, and for him (the speaker), and we mast ' ask for this reasonable request to be acceded to. The deputation would go down backed in the numbers- attending it, and should be helped with a strong petition signed by every man and w-juviu in the district. This means your ht^ad and batter and if Mi' Sodtbn is the man he makes iiuunlf out to bs he" must do all he ci;i tir u». Etc has styled himself 'in f'tliwr of the Maoris so why s.hou d \m not acs as a father to v". Tha dux .f ihe wbole question 19 that w • most bring soma pressure to bear nj.»on Me Seddon, who can help us if he wiil help us, And then we Rhall get all we want. (Great app'ttu-*).. "" Th.- M iyor then pot the resolution to tlio m -fling when it was carried unnnminii-ly with acclamation. Mr E lgl vnd thought that before the A^ets Board was approached it sh »;iid bt; shown how it would affect th m financially, but as the Mayor explained the idea was not to approach the Board at all, the matter dropped. Mr H. Austin proposed' " that a deputation wait upon the Premier and Minister of Land 3on a date as may bo arranged, to be composed of Means' 0. Gardner, G. Coley, H. Austin, A. King, R. Walden and J. Symons, flaxmillers ; His Worship the Mayor, the Borough Councillors and Town Clerk ; the leading businessmen and settlers of the district ; the business men of Wellington who are interested in the trade of Foxton; and the Leaders of the Labonr Unions of Wellington." Mr Charles Symons seconded (ht; resolution. ' On this being put to the meeting it was carried unanimously. Mr G. Gray moved "That the Town Clerk ba asked to act as Secretary and that he write to the business men in Wellington seeking i heii? cooperation and attendance on the deputation." ] Mr Thynne is supporting the resolution desired that the meeting ahduld know that the capital poster issued for the meeting was th composition of the Town Clerk, it was one of the best he had seen issued, and had a deal to do with securing the large attendance present, and he thought the thanks of the meeting were due to Mr McQueen, and he felt sure that as secretary Mr McQueen would be the right man in the right place. (Applause.) - The Mayor also desired to acknowledge the services of the Town Olerk in this matter, services which did nob boms within his aota&T'dnties, but which he had rendered promptly and efficiently. ■•--— Mr A. Baker seconded,, the resolution which was also carried unanimously. ■■:•-■•'■■ The Mayor remarked that the deputation ought to succeed, as he had had practical < experience that other conductors of large enterprises valued the flax industry r The Manawatu Railway Company had ffered to do all they could to help^ the flaxmillers on their line M they hid found this to pay from L.S.D. point of view. If this company had had this experience it must be certain

that oiho.' carriers aod business m-.-n had bad it '"0. Mr Garter in moving a vote of of thanka to the chairman regretted to have heaid it mentioned that the Assets B:.arrt bad been thoaghfc to have had hearts of stone, he did noi think so be.f!y cf them as they were simply aclng aa officials. He moved a ber.rty vote of thanks to the chair. The Rev. W. Woolleaa, in riMOg to second the motion, thought that the Assets Board wero blind to thenown interests if the facts mentioned that night were correct, as he did not in the least doubt they were. According to these facts the Board was going to l6s*e hundreds of pounds, and thus these people were acting directly agftinst their own interns as well as the interests of Foxton. He thought that no- only had hearts of stone bat had also hew.3 of wood. Persons are generally sop posed to h?. taken from the fools cf the family, and *:*e popularly not sapposed io know anything about money, bu'; for all thai ho wculd very much like to have the balance between profit and loss made by Ueir following the suggestion made, by the meeting. The Assets Borrd is surely part of the assets of the Bank of New Zealand, and was is not a fajt that the Board was created to help the bank along. Who does the bank belong to? (a voice here shouted « Seddon.") (laughter.) But he (tfce speaker) did not think it was Mr Beddon as he believed him fcj be too cute to have anything to do with an institution so financially weak as the bank. He thought the people must rule -»nd Mr Seddon must be made amenable on this question and therefore ho must be made to see that it is one for the good of the community. Ha favoured the idea that working men should accom pany the deputation and there could be room fonnd in a special tram for all. He felt wo could get Mr Seddon to agree to our views as they were fair, they were right and they were reasonable. (Applause) On the Mayor briefly returning thanks this n. osfc successful meeting ended.