THE FLAX-CUTTERS’ DISPUTE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1010, 22 February 1912, Page 3

THE FLAX-CUTTERS’ DISPUTE.

“We are going to hold a meeting of the union on Thursday morning to decide whether we shall go on working or not,” was

the news told to a Dominion re

porter by Mr R. H. Dalhousie, ' president of the Flaxmill Workers’ Union. ‘‘ We met four representatives of the Flaxmillers’ Association on Saturday, and . they said, ‘ No, no,” to everything we proposed. They would not discuss the thing, and they said they had not been empowered by the Association to discuss it. They were there merely to hand us the reply of the Association, which they could have done much more easily by letter, and it would have saved us from the trouble and expense of bringing fourteen of our men from all over the district. “We are not out for any increase in wages, but simply for some improvements in working conditions for the cutlers in the flax swamps. Our principal request is that the cutters’ flax shall be weighed before it is taken to the mill by the tram-men. Just now it is not, and the custom of guessing has given rise to a new word in flaxmiiling-—“over-run.” Cutters are paid at per ton, trammen are paid also at per ton, but in the case of the tram-men their flax is weighed. It is to their interest to take in as much as they can, and to get as much as possible from the cutter. Very often as much as a ton and a quarter is taken from the cutter as a ton. What he gets more than the cutter is credited with, he calls ‘over-run.’ A while ago they made so much out of it that the millers stepped in and said ‘halves,” and now things are worse for the men in the

swamps than ever. I know one case of a trammer who made ,£l6 in a fortnight out of ‘over-run’— £8 for himself, and ,£8 for the miller.

“Oh, yes, we are under an award, and I don’t want to see a strike, but I don’t think the men will take much heed of the Act if they want to strike.” The disiri-t affected reaches from Waikauae to Takapau, and from Raugitikei to Wairarapa, There are about 37 mills in that area, and they are all working now.

THE EMPLOYERS’ SIDE

The flaxmillers have placed their side of the question before the public by publishing the following from their secretary :

Below is a copy of a resolution passed by the Flaxmillers’ Association, and officially conveyed to the Union :

Re cutters and trammers. —That the flaxmillers’ Association request all millers to give immediate effect to the following recommendations :

That all clauses of the award regulating the conditions of work of cutters and trammers be adhered to.

That millers agree that flax be weighed, and weights and weighing be available to cutters or their fellow employees. In cases where a river is crossed the mill shall be considered the tram head. That when flax is carted millers shall provide the necessary labour for roads in the event of flax drays being stuck, causing extra carrying or re-loading, then the cutter shall be paid for time so lost. That no employee shall be compelled to board at the cook-house ; that in cases where married men board at the cook-house, an allowance shall be made for every day they are absent, provided 24 hours’ notice is given of their intention to be absent.

That all managers and foremen receive instructions to give immediate effect to the foregoing.

Therein it will be seen that a number of the claims, in so far as they referred to giving the men any facility to have prooer weights of cut flax accurately ascertained and credited to them, were at once agreed to; and, moreover, the great majority of millers have tor years worked upon that system. Mr Dalhousie’s reference to “overrun” imports a term which is quite unknown to the Flaxmillers’ Association, and can only be described as a figment of his imagination. However, the above recommendations so entirely refute Mr Dalhousie’s statements as to discount the value of his references in their entirety to a negligible quantity.—R. H. Spencer, secretary Flaxmillers’ Association.

MASS MEETING AT PALMERSTON.

BETWEEN 400 & 500

PRESENT,

mrp. Sally in attend-

ance.

MEN AVERSE TO A STRIKE

As a result of the abortive conference between representatives of the Manawatu Flaxmills’ Employees Union and the New Zealand Flaxmillers’ Association held at Palmerston North on Saturday last, in connection with the dispute between the swamp hands and their employers, the Executive of the Union afterwards met and passed the following resolution :

“That a mass meeting of the Union' be held in the Municipal Hall on Thursday, the 22nd inst., 'to deal with the highly unsatisfactory reply received from the Flaxmillers’ Association; that the meeting be held at 11.30 o’clock and that a definite decision as to a course of action be arrived at.”

And the mass meeting is being held in Palmerston to-day. Practically the whole of the mills in the district, with one or two exceptions, are closed down, as the

mill hands, or at least the majority of them, are in Palmerston to attend the meeting, when a course of action for the settlement of the dispute will be decided upon. As far as Foxlou itself is concerned only three mills are in operation. Number of the men cycled to Palmerston, others travelled by motor cars and about 35 took the train. Majority of those who are attending the meeting are flaxcutters and swamp hands, but there is no dispute as far as they are concerned, as their employers are complying with the demands made. By the time the Foxtou train reached Palmerston this morning it was absolutely crowded, it being estimated that there were fully 150 flaxmill workers aboard. The 11 o’clock train from down the Manawatu line was also packed with “flaxies” and the meeting will be attended by anything from 400 to 500 men.

The business of the meeting is to fully discuss the question, and to decide whether it is considered advisable to strike, or what other steps to take.

The Executive of the Union is opposed to a general strike, as the majority of the millers are complying with the demands made, and there are only five mills that refuse to fall into line. Two of the mills in question are at Tokomaru, two at Raugitane, and one at Karere.

From what could be gathered from the meu in the Foxton train this morning, it appears that they are very much opposed to striking, contending that the matter could easily be settled if the men who are employed by the millers in question were to all leave their employment at the same time. They say there is a decided shortage of flaxmillfilabour, very few of the mills being full handed nt the present lime. Further, by taking the action suggested the men would not be breaking the law, and would not be liable to the strike penalties. Mr P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, is in Palmerston to-day, and will address the meeting.

From present indications it seems certain that there will be no strike.

THIS MASS MELTING

PRESIDENT EXPLAINS

{MEETING AGAINST EXTREME MEASURES.

MR. HALLEY TO TAKE A HAND.

(By Telegraph.)

The mass meeting of flaxmill workers commenced at 11.30. From 400 to 500 are present.

The president addressed the meeting, explaining fully the matters in dispute. There was an informal discussion until the adjournment for lunch. Mr P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, has arrived and will address the meeting this alternoou. The feeling of practically the whole meeting is against striking, it being considered that the dispute can be settled without taking extreme steps. In all probability the Conciliation Commissioner, Mr Hally, will be asked to take the dispute in hand. If this is done it is practically certain that alter conferring with the millers concerned a satisfactory settlement will be arrived at.

LATER. SETTLEMENT LEFT IN HANDS OF MR. HALLEY AND UNION EXECUTIVE.

After Mr Hally addressed the meeting, it was unanimously decided that the dispute be leit in the hands of Mr Halley and the Union Executive with power to effect a settlement.

No doubt after conferring with the millers concerned a satisfactory settlement will be arrived at.