THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1009, 20 February 1912, Page 2

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

SWAMP HANDS DEMANDS

CONFERENCE RESULTS IN A DEADLOCK.

MASS MEETING CALLED FOR THURSDAY.

The conference between the Flaxmills’ Employees Union and the Flaxmillers’ Association, held at Palmerston on Saturday, in reference to the swamp hands demands, proved abortive. It will be remembered that the Union presented certain demands to the employers in regard to flax cutting and tramming. Some of these had been agreed to, but on others no decision was come to. The matter was discussed at the half yearly meeting of the Flaxmills’ Employees Union on Saturday, Feb. 5 th, and a resolution was passed expressing regret at what it deemed was an unsatisfactory reply to their demands and requesting an immediate answer to each of the clauses embodied in their claims, failing which a mass meeting would be called to deal with the matter “either within or without the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act.” Another stage in the dispute was reached on Saturday afternoon, when a further conference was held in Palmerston North between representatives of employers and mill hands.

It is alleged by the meu that the President of the Association had given Sis assurance privately to the men that the flaxmill owners attending the conference would have full power to settle the dispute, and that their hands would not be tied by the Association. It is now stated, however, that those who attended were bound by the Association, and would concede nothing in respect to the demands made by the men. The conference broke up without any agreement being arrived at.

Subsequently the delegates of the flaxmill employees neld a meeting to discuss the question, and the following resolution was passed : “That a mass meeting of the Union be held in the Municipal Hall Palmerston on Thursday, 22nd iust., to deal with the highly unsatisfactory reply received from the

Flaxmillers’ Association ; that

this meeting be held at n a.m., and that a definite de-

cision as to a, course ot action

be arrived at.”

As a result oi the time chosen for the meeting on Thursday, it is anticipated that some of the mills will be stopped on that day because the men will leave to attend the meeting. The employers, however, are not unanimous on this point.

The following are the conditions of work demanded by the Employees’ Union: — (4) That all flax shall be weighed at the tram end. No averaging to be done. (2) Tickets of weights of flax cut to be given to each cutter every day. (3) When trams have been laid cutters shall not be allowed to load the flax on trams, but the trammer may engage one man as loader, who shall be allowed to cut flax in his spare time. The minimum rate tor loading shall be 6d per ton. (4) When flax has been cut for two days without being weighed, an allowance of icwt per ton shall be made for depreciation, and xcvvt per ton'extra for each succeeding day. This clause not to apply when the swamp is under water, or when the delay has been due to fire. (5) In the event of an employer and cutters being unable to agree as to price, the employers shall appoint one representative and the cutters one. These two shall appoint a third, and these three shall settle the price, but in no event shall flax be cut for less than 5s per ton, (6) Wheu cutlers are cutting flax which is carted by drays from the swamp, an additional is per ton shall be allowed for loading, and the employer shall provide the necessary labour lor making roads. (.7) That at any time when flax is being weighed, cutters or their representatives shall be allowed to inspect weighing. (8) That all tramming be piecework. In the event of the trammer and the employer being unable to agree as to price, the employer shall appoint one representative and the trammer one. These two shall appoint a third, and these three shall settle the price, but in no event shall flax be trammed for less than 2s per ton over iron rails and 2s 6d per ton over wooden rails, or on a sliding scale based on the crop per acre, which shall not work out at less than the above rates on a crop of 30 tons to the acre. (9) That in the event of the flax being cut more than one and a-half chains from the tram, the cutter shall carry it to the one and a-half chain mark, and there stack it. The employer shall provide labour for carrying the additional distance. (10) That no employee shall be compelled to board at the cookhouse, and iu the case oi workers who are married an allowance shall be made for each day they are absent, provided they give notice on the previous day of their intention to be away.

CLAUSES IN DISPUTE, lu respect of clause i, there is practically no dispute. The millers consider that this is a fair demand and the majority have followed this practice for some time. The others will do so after August xst, which will allow time to import and put iu weighbridges. With regard to clause 2 it is stated that though some millers give tickets at present

others do not, and the position is therefore rather unsatisfactory. All millers are agreed that weights should be available for cutters as soon as the flax, is weighed. Clause 3 is stated to be one ot Ibe principal clauses iu dispute, to which no definite reply has been received from the employers, for the reason that it is already coveted by the award which provides that it shall not be obligatory for cutters to put the flax on the trams. It is held by the employers that clause 4 is covered by the award, which states that for flax that has been cut longer than three days, the average per bundle of the cutters’ previous weights shall be taken, and payment made accordingly. The Union holds that this is not satisfactory. Thirty bundles are usually considered to be equal to a ton, but when flax has been lying in the swamp, say, for a week, it depreciates in weight, and it takes more than thirty bundles to the ton. Consequently they ask that when the flax has lain more than two days without being weighed, an allowance of icwt per ton be made for depreciation. This was dealt with by the Arbitation Court and is provided for and carried out by the employers under the award. Clause 5 is also in dispute, as at present there is no minimum fixed, and prices range from 4s 6d to 6s, depending to some extent on whether loading is included or not. Owing to the varying conditions in different swamps it is impossible to fix a minimum because some swamps are improved and cutlers would be well content with 5s per ton, whereas 7s would be demanded in swamps in their natural state. In regard to clause 6, the employers, it is stated, are prepared to make the roads but are not prepared to give the extra shilling for loading. Clause 7is not in dispute. The employers do not agree to the first portion of clause 8, regarding piece-work, but say that tramming may be piece-work, day work or contract. Clause 9is in dispute. The award states that in cases such as that mentioned, reasonable extra payment shall be made, but the que-uio i is to decide what is reasonable extra payment. This is governed by the award, and the employees, if they have a grievance in this connection, can have them righted on appealing to the Court. In respect to clause xo, the employers ask for fortyeight hours’ notice, whereas the Union only wish to give twentyfour, as they state that iu the majority of cases the men do not know forty eight-hours before whether they will be away or not. The employers do not attach any importance to this clause and are willing to concede it. LATER DETAILS. SWAMP HANDS WILL NOT STRIKE.

DISPUTE ONEY WITH FEW MIEEERS.

(Special to Herald)

The conference re flax trouble at Palmerston on Saturday, was attended by 14 employees, representatives and four employers, Messrs Dalhousie and Robinson, and twelve swamp hands, Messrs Bell, Eiggins, A. and George Seifert, represented the Association,

The president of the Union says that employees representatives had full power to effect a settlement, but the employers took up the position of declining to discuss terms, stating that they only had power to absolutely refuse to agree to any demands made by the men. The mass meeting on Thursday may mean the closing of certain mills for the day. Mr Dalhousie says the dispute is with only a few millers, others agreeing to the terms. The outcome will probably be that the men affected will leave their employment in the ordinary way, but will not st; ike.