FLAXMILLS ACCOMMODATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1133, 14 August 1913, Page 3

FLAXMILLS ACCOMMODATION.

COUNTER DEPUTATION. Wellington, August 13. A deputation of Manawatu flaxmillers waited upon Mr Massey (Prime Minister) this morning for the purpose of replying to the statements made by the deputation from the Flaxmills Employees’ Union last week, in regard to accommodation, etc., at the mills. There were present, Messrs E. L. Broad, L,. Seifert, R. T. Bell, G. Craw, and A. A. Brown. Mr D. Buick, M.P., introduced the deputation, Messrs Guthrie and Robertson, M's.P., also being present. Mr Broad said the employers took strong exception to the remarks made by the Union’s delegates at last week’s deputation. The statements made by that deputation were most unfair, and the employers felt that the time had come when they must take off the gloves and reply to the charges. As to the statement that one employer had spent hundreds of pounds in erecting stables whilst neglecting to provide accommodation for the men, that was partly true and partly false. The mill was within the mile limit of a township, and therefore there was no occasion to provide accommodation for the men. As to the charge of x6s 6d a week for board by those who kept boarding houses, he stated that millers, under the 15s a week rate, had been losing money for three years. Millers objected to the union’s request for permission to appoint check inspectors being granted, unless employers were granted a similar privilege. Mr Seifert spoke in regard to complaints as to sanitary conveniences. He said that the industry was as healthy as any other, and in 14 years he had had only one mild case of fever. If the men would co-operate with the employers in improving the conditions and dealing with men whose conduct was not good, it would do m uch to improve matters. Mr Bell said the millers were doing their best to comply with the regulations. Mr Robertson said that it seemed that a great deal of the complaints regarding sanitary matters were due to want of cooperation between the employers and men. He would be pleased to assist in this direction as fat as possible. He replied to various statements made by the deputation. # Mr Massey, replying, said that he had already appointed a special inspector, who would devote the whole of his time to flaxmills in the Manawatu district, and who would report monthly. He did not think that the inspector should be influenced by either side, but he would do the work in a perfectly independent way. He hoped the matter would be more satisfactory in the future. Members of the deputation said that ninety per cent, of the men employed at the Manawatu mills were first-class men, but they complained of interference by ’ "paid agitators.” Mr Robertson, M. replied that only one man in the deputation from the Emi ployees’ Union last week received any payment fßitn the Union.