FLAXMILLS WORKERS’ MORALS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1076, 15 March 1913, Page 3

FLAXMILLS WORKERS’ MORALS.

Before the Imperial Trade Commission at Wellington, Mr Robert Gardner, ex. flaxmiller, of Palmerston, gave evidence. Witness explained that be paid some of his hands up to £6 per week, and in some cases over that amount.

This led a member of the Commission to enquire whether the men went on the land after some years at such work ? Witness replied that of some 600 men who had been in his employ, he knew of two only who “ had risen above their position.” Sir Alfred Bateman: What is deleterious iu the industry ? Is it very exhausting work ? Witness; No.

What class ot labour is it ? You might call it casual labour. Very little skill is required. Not to earn £6 7s 6d per week ? — : No. I have figures here of the wages paid at one of my mills. Boys are paid as much as £2 12s per week. Does this condition obtain throughout ?—lt has been so ever since I have known the industry. What is the reason ? —The men get their money and go off to the nearest race meeting. I cannot explain the reason, He added that the amount of money wasted the men was very large.

Witness, in reply to general questions, said the industry this year was prosperous, but prices fluctuated and were determined by the price of Manila hemp.

At last night’s meeting in the Masonic Hall, the above statement vyae referred to and the following motion was unanimously carried, on the motion of Mrs C. Matsen, seconded by Mrs J. Hannah That this meeting of the wives and sisters of the Foxton workers emphatically express their indignation against the statement made R. by Gardner in giving evidence before the Royal Empire Trades Commission concerning the habits and moral** of the workers engaged iu that industry, and consider he should be utterly ashamed of himself for making such a mean contemptible allegation for the purpose of casting a stigma upon our moral character.”

Writing to the Manawatu Standard in connection with Mr Gardner’s statements, Mr Alfred Seifert, the well-known flaxmiller, says“ Mr Gardner’s experience of the tiaxmilling industry has been very different to mine. I have no hesitation in stating that the men employed in the flaxmilling industry are equal to any other body of workers in the Dominion. Mr Gardner has not been actively engaged in the industry for some time, and apparently has failed to realise that the steady working of the mills has induced the very best class of men in the Dominion to seek employment in this industry. In justice to the men I am taking this oppotunity of contradicting Mr Gardner’s statement. In fact it is hard to believe that be has been correctly reported.”