THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 452, 4 March 1909, Page 2

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Our Palmerston morning contemporary, ever impulsive, has been drawing on its imagination of late, in respect to certain statements it has published re the flaxmill employees, and their request for a Royal Commission to enquire into the hemp industry. Our contemporary stated, and caused to be published in the Wellington papers, on the eve of the fllaxraills’ employees’ deputation’s visit to the Minister for Labour, the following paragraph ; “it is believed if a vote were taken at least 75 per cent, of the workers would be in favour of reverting to the conditions existing before the present award came into force, provided they were free from the influence of the agitators.” The only construction any one could possibly place upon such a statement so well-timed, was that its publication was intended to counteract the effect of the deputation’s visit to the Minister. The deputation were naturally annoyed at the ruse, and the following contradiction appeared in the Wellington journals, who had been so misled: “ The special meeting of the Flaxmills’ Union called to decide as to whether or not the union would join in applying for a revision of the award was called by circular to all our outlying branches, and was also adveitised in the local press. The attendance was fully representative ; any member who was unable to attend had the option of recording his vote by proxy, and the decision of the meeting to decline the association’s invitation was absolutely unanimous. Now in view of the fact, what became of the hypothetical 75 per cent,” Finding that the paragraph above referred to missed its mark and learning that the deputation was sympathetically listened to by the Minister our contemporary conveniently covered its retreat with another false statement to the effect that “the Flaxmills Employees Union put in a very strong plea by way of resolution in favour of Mr Hogg ” as a member of Cabinet. This, of course, is a reflection on Mr Hogg. The Flaxmills Employees Union or the flaxmill employers had nothing to do with the resolution passed at a public meeting in Foxton in reference to Mr Hogg At the lime the resolution was passed the Hon. Mr Millar was Minister for Labour. The following is a copy of the resolution proposed by Mr Henncssy, and seconded by Mr Hornblow, at a political meeting addressed by Mr Frankland on October i-’lh : “That this meeting of electors is strongly of opinion that the vacancy in the I Ministry caused through the rer 1 sig nation of Mr llall-Jones should | be tilled by a member Irom the , North Island and further that this meeting is ol opinion that no more worthy member has a better claim to the position than Mr A. W. Hogg M.P., for Masterton.” Our readers will see in what a

tangle our contemporary has placed itself. We hold no brief either for the employees or employers but every care should be exercised to publish the truth concerning the hemp industry.