CLOSING DOWN THE MILLS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1546, 4 May 1916, Page 3

CLOSING DOWN THE MILLS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir. —A letter under the above heading by Mr MeMurray is one of those mis-statements or half-truths which cause a considerable amount of talk and ill-feeling. I wish to put the true facts before your readers, in justice to those millers who have shut down their mills. Mr MeMurray’s first statement is that at a meeting on the 13th April, it was decided to close all mills at Easter, and that the merchants were notified to this' effect, and they (the merchants) considered it only fair to influence all millers to fall into line. Now, sir, what happened was this (and if Mr MeMurray had only read your reports and comments in previous issues he would not have made this statement —or, perhaps he did read them, but they did not suit him) : A communication was received by the Ela.xmillers’ Association from the merchants, informing them of the seriousness of the position regarding shiping. At a meeting of the Association called to consider this, a deputation was appointed to meet the merchants, the shipping companies, and the Government. This deputation, note, never had a chance of offering to close down to relieve the. pressure, but were informed by the merchants (1 believe every merchant or recognised buyer of hemp was present, or represented) that (he merchants had decided to take delivery of no more hem]) after the end of April, and would notify millers individually in terms of their contracts to that effect. The deputation interviewed the Premier, put their ease before him to see if he could not assist, hut so far nothing had been done to relieve the position. Therefore the merchants told the millers what they were going to do, and the millers were then in this position : if they decided to mill after the end of April, (hey had to store and finance the hemp themselves, or make arrangements outside the usual channels of conducting the business. The deputation on April 13th reported this position to a general meeting of the Millers’ Association, and what happened at that meeting is not what Mr MeMurray would lead you to infer, namely, that “it was dedecided,” but, that it “he a. recommendation” to all members of the Association to (dose the mills for a month to allow the hem]) in store to he cleared if possible, and thus pave the way for a run later on. It was recognised that the millers had little or no say in the matter. If the merchants carried out their decision, they had to close, because the firm whom Mr MeMurray is associated with, or any other miller, would he in the same position as if his bank slopped payment. A month would about see the end of most of them, if not the lot, if the merchants refused to take and pay for the hemp, and if no more ships were available than could he accounted for, the position would he very much worse than at present, as it would he placing the milers in a position of having lots of hemp but no money, therefore at t lie mercy of the buyers. It does not matter if hemp is .€IOO in London ; if you cannot get it there it is not worth as many shillings here. The Australian and local demand is only very limited, and these buyers are (juite capable of taking advantage of such a position as the present, and dictating their price. If the position is judged fairly, it will he seen that the recommendation of the Millers Association was in the best interests of everyone connected with the industry—employees, employers, and merchants. Mr MeMurray asks who were the millers who’ pased the resolution. Sir, they were the members of the recognised official association of fiaxmillers, which membership is open to any iiaxmiller engaged in the industry, the only qualification being, pay your subscription. If Mr MeMurray is a fiaxmiller, and can suggest a way out of our present difficulties, independent, of shipping companies or merchants,. I shall be pleased to nominate him or any other miller, as a, member, as it has always been the aim and desire of the Association to get every miller to become a member. A e not only welcome them, hut their subscription as well, which I may state, is just about the same as a cricket club or howling club. But 1 notice with this, as with most other associations for the benefit of assisting and protecting common interests, there are a few who ffke t<> g'.t their battles fought for them and are very free in saying how it ought to he done and what should have been done. In Mr McMnrray’s humble opinion it is not in the best interests of the industry, or of the community, that the mills should close down. I am glad it is only his humble opinion, because I am certain every miller’s opinion is that we arc fiaxmillers for the purpose of running the mills, not for closing them, and when running we have a chance to make money, hut when closed down it is a daily loss. Mr Me Murray states there is plenty available space in harbour board sheds. Of what use is that ? There is plenty of space in our paddocks, but this only brings back the question ; are the millers in a position to dictate to the merchants and tell them they shall take the hemp, and shall pay for it, and to tell the shipping companies they shall cany it away. Mr McMuvay says it is Hot a fair thing to the community to throw hundreds of men out of work, and yet further on he admits it is only the usual stoppage coming a bit earlier than usual. As one associated with the industry, he plight to know that most millers

have only very recently got rifl of their low contracts, in fact, some

have not yet. done so, and they have a lot of leeway to make up, and what does he think they are going 1 to gain by throwing the men out of work ? Mr MeMurray states that there were many millers in this district not invited to atend the. meeting, also, that there were dozens of millers in New Zcahmd who knew nothing about it. Possibly so. However, the firm whom he is associated with cannot say that, as they are members of the Association, and it was their duty to spare time to attend. As to others, vhe answer is ; become members of the Association. Why, may I ask, should the Association look after the interests of millers who are too indifferent to look after their own ? Rut yet they do, as their interests are common. He stales if it is absolutely necessary to close down for a period, all the millers would be only too willing to agree to do so. Would they ? If so, why have they not (dosed, and what .s tins letter aII about ? The merchants (old the deputation they had to (dose down or finance themselves, and because the Association recommended millers in the general interests of all, Mr MeMurray is complaining. The Association had no power to dictate to the individual miller how he, should run his business, but because some have been able to make private arrangements to keep going i/> : a time in the hope something will turn up in the near future (and it will have to be very near, or their running will come to a full stop very soon), Air McMurrav is comjeainiug. As far as I am aware, all the millers intended to run right through if possible. Even the Riverdale estate was stretching every point to let millers cut, and I feel certain that if that order from the merchhad not come not one mill m the district would nave Lad wader holidays. Why should they ? The green leaf man knows that this is a Loom time for him, and if he does not cut a blade of llax for five years instead of three by reason of winter cutting, he will hi 1 handsomely repaid at present royalties, and if cutting were allowed I haven't met the miller who would not mill. Mr MeMurray says, why not (dose in sections, some one month, some another I That was discussed, hut considered impracticable, as it would have taken nothing short of an Act of Parliament to have done it to suit the green leaf owners Mr MeMurray says, let those millers who do not wish to (dose down and were not invited to the oilier meeting have a meeting and discuss matters. Sir, what are they going to discuss ? If they are in that fortunate position of having private ships to get their hemp to London, they will lie able to buy out their less fortunate fellows at their own prices inside of six months, and what is more, will have, the money to do it with. As before stated, Air MeMurray has by his letter inferred that millers who have closed down have done so from some abstruee reason. This is unfair. At the meeting on the 13th, every miller, and there were representatives of every kind of miller —private green leaf owners, royalty men, and buy outright scratch where you can men —deplored the fuel, and expressed regret, both on their own account and on account of their employees. Rood prices, good wages, the chance to make up leeway, got rid of coiilraets and take advantage of higher prices likely to rule, were all gone. Why ? What was to Illume when yon get down to bedrock ? Nothing lint the cause of the high prices—the world’s present trouble. Rut whether they judged the position correctly or not time will prove. They felt that restricted output now would he in the best interests of aI! concerned, and thus allow the accumulation at present in store to lie got away and relcive the position for the spring. No miller wants to have to stop between August and -March if he can possibly help it, and as far as they could judge, if milling was continued through the winter, and the war was still raging, it meant a bigger stop later on, owing to the big accumulation of stocks which Home and American buyers would he perfectly aware of, and (puck to take advantage of to force down prices, to the detriment of both employers and employees. This, together with the merchants report to their deputation that they were going to take no more hemp afte- the 3(Hn April, they considered ’..here was no other course hut to agree, and hence they re-ommended this course to the members of the ..Association. Thanking you in anticipation for permission to allow this reply and statement to appear in your paper, —I am, etc., A. ROSS.