FLAX MILLERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 871, 28 July 1910, Page 3

FLAX MILLERS’ ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Flaxmillers’ Association was held at Palmerston N. yesterday afternoon. Mr R. T. Bell (president) occupied the chair, and presented the following annual report: — I have much pleasure in reporting to you the doings of your executive during the past year. There have been some twenty meetings during the above period, at which many important matters have been more or less successfully dealt with. The New Award. —This item was the first on the list, and the time spent in this direction was very considerable, owing to the case having to be prepared in the first instance for the purpose of going before the Conciliation Commissioner. The assessors who represented the Association in conjunction with Mr Pryor unfortunately found it impossible to arrive at any settlement before the Commissioner, and further work was then necessary to assist Mr Pryor in preparing his case for the Arbitration Court. A special committee was set up to deal with this business, and no effort was spared by its members in collecting evidence to enable Mr Pryor to conduct our case successfully. No doubt vou are all well acquainted with the new award, and the one or two advantages that the millers have gained by it. But, considering the poor prices which have ruled for our hemp for some con-

siderable time, and the depression generally in our industry, it is to be regretted that the Court did not recognise the seriousness of the situation by freeing the industry from an award altogether. Outside Subscriptions.—lt was decided that merchants and others directly interested in the industry should be approached with a view to obtaining financial assistance to help the Association with its labour troubles, and I have much pleasure in saying that this request was readily responded to by some of the mosi piominent hemp merchants, flaxgrovvers, and flaxmillers in the Dominion.

Reduction in Winter Freights, —One of the most pleasing features of the past year is the way the shipping companies trading to London have recognised the appeal from your executive for a reduction in their winter freights. Such reductions did not only benefit those millers belonging to the Association, but all millers throughout the Dominion. Accident Insurance. —This is always an expensive item with millers, and a special deputation was sent to Wellington to confer with thelUnderwriters’ Association on the question of reducing their rates. It is pleasing to report that this representation was the means of the rates being reduced from 38s 6d to 30s per Work by Contract. —During the term of the last award, one of our members took advantage of a clause in that award which permitted work being done in this manner, but apparently the Flaxmill Union did not think the clause was being properly applied, and decided to have the matter argued in the Arbitration Court. Your executive decided that the pioneer of this system should be helped by the Association to establish his rights. Legal assistance was therefore obtained, with the result that the argument was decided in the millers’ favour. Other millers have since put the system into operation, and have reported that it has worked most successfully. Newcastle Coal Strike, —This trouble was very detrimental to our trade with Australia owing to the shipping companies increasing their freights considerably, and to such an extent that Manila and other fibres could be landed at

Australian ports cheaper than we could land ours there, notwithstanding our being one of Australia’s closest neighbours. It is

to be regretted that the shipping: companies in the inter-Colonial. trade did not weigh the question of increasing their freights more carefully as far as our hemp and tow were concerned, for their increases so seriously curtailed

orders for our hemp from Australia that the loss in freight to r the companies must now be more than equal to their gain during the period of their increased freights. Your executive made repeated applicatiou to the leading shipping companies for a return to ordinary rates, and their efforts were at last rewarded, but not until a great deal of damage was done to our trade. Hemp Grading. This is a matter that requires the constant attention of your executive both with regard to improving the system and seeing that it is faithfully carried out. For some time past until recently the fibre division was not controlled by a head grader. Deputations from your Association to the Minister for

Agriculture were, I understand,

eventually successful in inducing him to appoint Mr Wm. Ferris to the above position, and general approval of that appointment has been expressed by millers. The

question of having the present grades further divided into Class A and B with a margin of only five points in each grade was also brought under the Minister’s notice without success. However, this matter should not be dropped, as it is most important to millers. Bonus for Improving Machinery. Xhis most important question has been again reviewed by Mr Wm. Akers, of the Riverdale estate, Mauawatu. This gentleman deserves our best thanks for

j his addresses to millers on his ex- '■ periences of fibres and their uses and the cost of production of same in other parts of the world. He has also given us a good insight into the possibilities and great improvements in the dressing of our flax that might be derived if the New Zealand Government offered a very substantial bonus, say, of ,£IO,OOO, for an invention capable of treating our leaf to the best possible purpose. On two occasions this most important matter has been brought under the notice of the hon. Minister for Agriculture by deputations from your Association, and on both occasions the Minister was most sympathetic with the movement, and it is to be sincerely hoped that Cabinet has the same good feeling towards our representations in this matter. Your executive will not lose sight of this, and will use every effort to induce the Government to fall in with their views on this question. We have to thank the New Zealand Employers’ Federation for permitting their able secretary, Mr Win. Pryor, to conduct our case for a new award in the Arbitration Court, and also for the many other services he has rendered during the past year. Your executive has felt the loss very considerably of the services of Mr A. Seifert, who unfortunately bad to retire from all business, owing to ill-health, but I hope the time is not far distant when he will be amongst us again as strong and well as ever. Our best thanks are also due to Mr M. Cohen, who as a member of the Wellington Harbour Board has kept constant watch over hemp and tow interests in that quarter. In conclusion, I think the doings of your executive for the past year have been mostly reviewed in this report, and it is to be regretted our members do not give more of their time to our general meetings. It is discussion that produces ideas, and may it be the good fortune of the newly-elected officers to have bumper attendances at all their meetings in the coming year.

Mr Seifert favoured a fixed grading standard in respect to colour and strength.

It was decided to remind the Minister of his promise to appoint Mr Ferris as chief grader. It was decided to again communicate with the Minister regarding the Government bonus for labour-saving machinery.

Comment was made on the atrocious nature of the sheds at Wellington used for the grading of hemp. They were badly lit, and it was impossible to judge colour therein. This was causing millers considerable monetary loss. It was decided to approach the Government in the matter, and also that Mr Cohen bring the matter before the Harbour Board. Mr Louis Seifert was elected president, Mr R. T, Bell vice-presi-dent and Mr J. Liggins treasurer ; executive, foregoing officers and Messrs F. Seifert, M. Cohen, H. Greig, Higginson, E. T. Broad and Tennant.