FLAXMILL ACCOMMODATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1036, 27 April 1912, Page 3

FLAXMILL ACCOMMODATION.

DEPUTATION WAITS ON THE MINISTER.

DISGt P-N. LJ ALLEGED.

"Some of the accommodation provided for men employed about flaxrailis is absolutely disgusting. It is most, insanitary and in many cases perfectly indecent.” These statements were made by the members of a deputation from the Mauawatu Flaxmills Employees' Union which .interviewed the Minister for Labour, the Hon. G. Laureusou, yesterday afternoon, and urged upon him the need of forcing the employers to make improvements.

The chief speaker was the president of the union, Mr R. Dalhousie, who said that for a long time the men had been working under very objectionable conditions. He asked the Minister to exercise the powers vested iu him and to gazette regulations that would make for better treatment. The Union asked the Minister to provide inter alia for:— (1) Only two men iu a room, with air-space as in the present Act ; (2) wire-woven stretchers and mattresses; (3) bathrooms, with one bath and shower (hot and cold water) for every twenty men ; (4) all dining and sleeping rooms to be match-lined throughout ; (5) provision of sitting-room, with sufficient fires to dry clothes iu wet weather, say, one fire tor every fifteen men; fuel and lighting to be supplied by the employer ; (6) sleeping accommodation tor cooks to be entirely distinct from storeroom or kitchen ; (7) restriction of charge by employers for accommodation and use of utensils to xs per man per week ; (8) sufficient lavatory accommodation ; (q) provision of first-aid appliances at every mill; (to) appointment of accommodation inspectors. Mr Dalhonsie said that some millers had shown an iudiuotion to neglect even the meagre conditions now imposed. It was indeed necessary to tie them up, fairly tight by regulation or very little would be done. The union also protested against an attempt now being made to have contracts tor labour only and asked the Minister to legislate iu order to frustrate it.

Others speakers supported the requests, one saying that the accommodation provided for flaxmillers was the very worst he had seen.

The .Ministers said that the union’s list of requests appealed to him as being very moderate and reasonable indeed. He was given to understand that the accommodation at some of the flaxmills was abominable. The requests had his sympathy, for he held that it was abominable that men should be compelled to live under the conditions described to him. He would have pleasure in bringing the requests before Cabinet and hoped that something would be done to secure improvement before very long,—Times.