FLAX WORKERS’ DISPUTE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1013, 29 February 1912, Page 3

FLAX WORKERS’ DISPUTE.

SETTLEMENT ARRIVED AT,

ON A SATISFACTORY BASIS. The conference between the Flaxmillers’ Association and the Flaxmill Employees’ Union, before Mr P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, at the Palmerston Courthouse on Tuesday, iu respect of the demands made by the men for an alteration iu the conditions of work for the swamp hands, resulted in a satisfactory settlement being arrived at.

There were a number of mill owners and men present, but at the suggestion of Mr Hally four were appointed from each side with power to act. This was agreed to, and Messrs J. Liggins, A. Seifert, M. Cohen and H. Greig were appointed on behalf of the Association, and Messrs R. H. Dalhousie, P. T. Robinson, G. Stove and A. McLaggan on behalf of the Union. The conference commenced at 2.30 p.m., and lasted till after 6 p.m,, when an agreement was arrived at which was satisfactory to both parties. The basis of settlement provides that all flax shall be weighed, and that weights and weighing shall be available to cutters or their representatives as from August xst, 19x2. In cases where a river is to be crossed the mill shall be considered the tram head.

A minimum rate of 4s gd per ton is to be paid for cutting. Cutting flax shall mean and include cutting, tying, carrying and stacking at a convenient place for loading on trucks or drays.

In the event ot flax being cut more than one and a-halt 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 flax the additional distance.

When flax is carted the miller shall provide the necessary labour for roads.. In the event of flax drays being stuck, causing extra carrying or reloading, then the cutter shall be paid for time lost.

No employee shall be compelled to board at the cook house. In cases where married men board at the cook house an allowance shall be made for every day they are absent, provided that 24 hours’ notice is given of their intention of being absent. When trams have been laid, cutters shall not be allowed to load the flax on trucks.

Except where otherwise provided this agreement shall be read in conjunction with and concurrent with, an award of the Court, dated March 16th, 1910. and shall come into operation on March 7th, 1912. The term of this agreement shall expire on the same date as that decided by the Court in fixing the date of expiration of the aforementioned award of March 31st, 19x0, namely, March 31st, 1913. At the conclusion Messrs Cohen, Eiggius, A. Seifert and Greig spoke in terms of high praise of the tacttul manner in which the Commissioner had dealt with the dispute, the members of the Union also adding their meed of praise.

MR HAEEY INTERVIEWED

Mr Hally, interviewed subsequently, stated that he was fuliy aware of the importance of endeavouring to get the parties to arrive at an amicable agreement, particularly when it was considered that the value of the plant and the capital invested was stated approximately at over ,£2,000,000, and that over a thousand men, many of whom are married, were employed in various ways in connection with the industry. It was not too much to say that he was rather pleased that an arrangement had been come to, which he hoped would prove satisfactory to all concerned. East week over 600 men attended a meeting called by the executive ot the Employees’ Union, and, if he was any judge of character, he would say that those men were determined to make every effort, even to the extent of the extreme step, to secure what they themselves termed “a square deal.” To the credit of the executive, and particularly to Mr Dalhousie, the president of the Union, it could be said that no dislocation of work had taken place. Immediately he requested the men to return to work they did so without any demur. “To-day,” he continued, “the employers and all those men met, and though at times the cloud appeared to have only a very dim silver lining, the difficulties were overcome and sweet reasonableness prevailed. I believe that the men will be satisfied, at any rate until their case comes under review again at the middle of next year, and I have no reason for thinking that both parties are not pleased with the result of to-day’s deliberations.”

Asked for an opinion as to whether there was a prospect in the future of the parties coming to a satisfactory arrangement in a similar manner should a dispute occur, Mr Hally replied that he had not the slightest doubt that xl in future the parties met in the spirit that had characterised the present meeting, a satisfactory solution would be arrived at. The men w ho took part in the conference were intelligent aud were able to realise the responsibility of the position they were placed in. He would go further, he said in conclusion, aud say that it the same class of men had to deal with a future difficulty of a similar nature, the result would be exactly the same. . Mr Daliiousie, president ot tue

Flaxmill Employees’ Union, in conversation with a representative of the Standard, stated that the success ot the conference was undoubtedly due to the tactful and considerate manner in which Mr Hally handled an eminently delicate situation. Those who were familiar with his record would be pleased that he had added another success to the long list of satisfactory settlements. The conditions will now be registered as an industrial agreement to operate as from March 7th. They were signed on Tuesday night by the president, vice-pre-sident and secretary of both parties. In conversation with one of the leading millers this morning he inlormed us that the spirit of the agreement come to was expressed in the terms of settlement as set out above, although the wording of the agreement might be slightly different. He expressed the opinion that the agreement was highly satisfactory to all concerned.