ARROGANT TRADES GUILDS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 453, 1 April 1909, Page 3

ARROGANT TRADES GUILDS.

(Contributed). Another remarkable instance of the exactions of labour was shown at the S.M. Court in Foxtou, when the Manawatu Flaxmills Employees’ Industrial Union of Workers sued one F'rank Davis, feeder at a local mill, for 13s 6d being contributions due to the above mentioned Union. This unfortunate man obtained a nominal clearance from the Union, took a trip to the West Coast of the South Island, continued his work there in connection with flaxmills and returned to the Manawatu district in May 1908. Upon his return he naturally came in for the benefits accruing to members ol the Union, (whose number he had already counted amongst), without being liable to any of the burdens shared anjpngst the financial members. Very naturally the S.M. gave a decision against the Union upon their sueing the man Davis for his alleged arrears of contributions. This man would appear to be one of the large percentage of the workers of the industry who were alleged by the Manawatu Daily Times to be in favour of a dissolution of the Union, and we shall be pleased to hear from either Mr Davis, or any of the balance of the percentage on this subject. As the question stands it is a matter of no doubt that a man who has qualified himself by withdrawal from the district of a period of some ten (10) months should naturally be exempt from the obligations of so arbitrary and iconoclastic a guild as the Manawatu Flaxmill Employees’ Industrial Union of Workers has apparently shown itself to be.