UNION NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 462, 12 June 1909, Page 2

UNION NOTES.

[This column is edited by the Floxmills Employees’ Union Executive. All matters for publication under this head must be forwarded to the Secretary of the Union,]

Mr Craw’s mill at Tokomam is closing down at the end of the month. It is reported that Mr Craw intends doing all his future milling at the Einton end of his property, running the green leaf in from Tqkomaru by tram. It is rumoured that Mr Craw is installing a new machine; built apparently upon the Chicago principle. The green leaf goes in at one end and the bale comes out the other. We have not heard whether or not it has the necessary insurance policy and bill-of-lading attached when it is produced, but in any case a machine of this sort should be a good seller. We recollect the first of this species of machine introduced into the Dominion. It came from the home of the wooden ham and was put up on Mr Gardner’s Paiaka mill. The idea was to feed a bundle at a time sideways and then, stand out of the wav of the bale as it rolled out. The first bundle was duly fed, there was an angry whirring of cogs and rattling of chains and the machine came to a dead stop. The curious part of the case was that when the machine was opened to ascertain what was the matter the bundle had vanished ! There remained nothing but a few shreds of fibre and a handful or so of vegetation. It is to be hoped that Mr Craw’s will be an improvement upon this. THE ODD, ODD STORY.

For some time past we have noted short paragraphs in the papers, beginning “The following advices from a large firm of consumers at Home have been received by Mr E. E. Broad, the well-known miller.” Then would follow a doleful prophesy of what would and what would not happen to New Zealand hemp unless the cost of production was lowered so that it could compete with the products of tropical cheap-labour countries. In the face of all these, it is pleasureable to note that in the fast fortnight fibre has advanced 30s per ton, according to Mr Fulton, and that the American market offers £1 per ton more than the High Commissioner quotes. There would appear to be a chance for our unfortunate fibre after all! '

THE RIGHT DIRECTION. At the forthcoming conference of Trades and Eabour Council the, following remit will be brought forward : The remit affirms that the name of the organisation shall be the “ New Zealand Federation of Eabour.” The objects of the federation shall be :

“To secure, by all just means, the best possible advantage for all classes ol labour throughout New Zealand; to maintain a spirit of fraternal sympathy with the workers of all other countries; to uphold the rights of all workers to a remuneration equivalent to the full value of their labour power; to affirm the distinct identity of labour as a factor in the field of politics. ’ ’

The proposed federation has our fullest sympathy.