ARBITRATION COURT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3768, 8 June 1907, Page 2

ARBITRATION COURT.

Flaxmiliers’ Dispute.

The following is the continuation of the evidence in the above case which was heard before Mr Justice Simm, at Palmerston, on Wednesday and Thursday last.

Alfred Seifert, flaxmiller, President of the New Zealand Flaxmillers’ Association, said he had carefully considered the recommendations of the Board, and considered that if they were all adopted it would increase the cost of production on an average of 25s per ton all over the colony. The increase in this district would be about £1 per ton, the position of the various mills accounting for the variation in cost. Several mills were only making small profits at present, and if the recommendations were carried out they would, he thought, have to close. He admitted some millers were making large profits, but others only 5 per cent. The conditions of Government grading had in itself increased the cost of production. more green flax now being required to obtain the sired grade of fibre per ton. With a high grade, as laid down by the Government regulations, it was, of course, more difficult to get the green flax of a quality to give the grade. Wages had increased during the past nine years with the price of fibre, even without a union, and that had also been a factor in the cost of production. He did not think present prices for fibre, which were abnormal, would continue. Since the Conciliation Board considered the proposals there had been a drop of £7 per ton on fibre. A similar drop might occur again at any moment. Under the conditions now proposed there were about 30 mills that could not carry on, and with another drop of per ton another 30 mills would go out, leaving only about 30 mills to go on. When he commenced work as a flaxmill hand he received 6s per week and found, and worked 10 hours per day. Millers paid today fully 30 per cent, higher wages than they did seven or eight years ago. There was no difficulty with the men previous to the present dispute. They were quite agreeable to a week of forty-eight hours.

Maurice Cohen, the next witness, said he was satisfied that the New Zealand hemp market was dependent upon the price ot Manila, and the present prices were due to a shortage of Manila, owing to a typhoon from which the crops had not yet recovered. There had also been a shortage of jute, and he thought there was no doubt there would be a reduction in the price of fibre, perhaps to what it was ten years ago', when these crops recovered.

The evidence of the last witness closed the case for the employers.

Mr Westbrook, in his address to the Court, said he had never seen an industry so very detrimental to health as flaxmilling, particularly as regarded the catcher and the scutcher. He admitted wages were better now than they were years ago. Referring to the statement as to the demands threatening the industry, Mr Westbrook said, considering the good times the millers had had during the past eight years, he thought that the men should share in the better times. Objections, he said, were always forthcoming when an endeavour was made to get better treatment for the men working. Figures were quoted showing the cost per ton of fibre under present and proposed conditions, the difference, according to Mr Westbrook, being only about 16s per ton in favour of the proposed conditions.

P. Robinson, flaxmill employee, gave evidence as to the wages received in various mills. He thought the occupation was not a particularly healthy one, and he had suffered in health while he was engaged at the work. Jas. Desmond, flaxmill employee, said he had been scutching for eight years, and at the finish it affected his health. He was now on contract work. He did not recover normal health until he had left off scrutching for 12 months. His doctor told him he would have to leave off scutching ; the work affected his throat and lungs. Replying to Mr Prior, witness said he now averaged £4. a week at contract work.

A. J, Lett, Patrick McGill, C. Maloney, T. W. Dudson, H. Procter, A. Stevenson (flaxmill employees), gave evidence as to the generally unhealthy nature of the flaxmilling industry. Dr O’Brien said that during his local experience he had treated several cases of asthma, and from his enquiries was led to believe that it was a form of asthma peculiar to the mills. The work in the mill would probably create an irritation of the lungs, but certainly cause no disposition to tuberculosis. Further evidence on the lines already stated was given by the following employees:—J. Harris, M. O’Reilly, M. Cunningham, and A. Sylva, the latter closing the case for the Union. Further evidence on behalf of each party will be called at Wanganui and probably Napier.