FLAXMILL STRIKE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1781, 26 January 1918, Page 3

FLAXMILL STRIKE

ALLEGED BREACHES OF THE ACT.

A further batch of cases arising out of the recent Miranui tlaxmill dispute was before His Worship, Mr W. G. K, Kenrick, S.M., at Palmerston on Thursday, when James Henry Torhit, Inspector of Factories, proceeded against J. G. Hope, J. Taylor, F. Schwind, J. Whitmore, Rangitiro Ropata, Y. M. Pope, J. Ingram, A. Blair, C. C. Franks, C, E. Johns, 11. E. Perkins, T. H. Gibson, A. T, Doige, A. Burke, M. Karkcek, J. McLean; and G. Mercer. Inspector sought to recover from each defendant £lO as a penalty for an offence under section 5 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Act, 1908, the offence being in that each defendant, being a Avorker within the meaning of the Act and bound by the ManaAvatu District Flax.mills’ Employees’ aAvard of August 2fith, 1915, did, on or about September 7th, 1917, become a party to a strike. Mr Harold Cooper appeared on behalf of the defendants, and in order to facilitate the proceedings it was agreed to fake the eases of paddock arid scutching Avorkers together, the following being cited under those heads: Pope, Ingram, Blair, Gibson, Doige, Burke (paddockers) an(| Franks, Johns, Perkins, Karkeek, McLean, Mercer (scutchers). The cases against Hope, Turner, SchAvind, West more and Ropata Avere taken separately, being millha nds.

In the case against Hope, a beneldoiUier at .Miranui null, Mr Cooper consented to judgment for £1 and costs, this being in accordance Avith the judgment given against the other men at Miranui.

CASK AGAINST PADDOCKFJDs AND SCUTCHERS.

The case against the paddockcrs and scutchers was proceeded with, Mr A, Seifert, managing director of the A. and L, Seifert Flaxmilling Co., Ltd., gave, evidence as to the paddockers Ingram, Burke, Mardcn, and Pope interviewing him at Miranni on September 7th, about threequarters of an hour after the mill should have re-commencod work. They said they considered they should have an increase in the paddocking rate, as they had not been doing well, the weather being unusually bad for paddocking, and until the new automatic scutchers were installed they had to stack the fibre, which they considered made the conditions worse. , Witness replied that he knew the facts were as they said, and he was prepared to make some concession on 'this account. In fact, he had mentioned to Ingram on a previous occasion that he would give them a sort, of bonus, (hough he could not: increase the rate. There xyas no demand made. M'itness asked what they considered a fair thing, and one of them replied that the pay should he made up to 15s per day, M'itness agreed to that, and said (hoy were making that under the contract. These men were referred to in the award as piece workei’s, and were paid so much per tori. This 35s per day was to apply up to the end of September. The demand of King and the millhands for an increase of wages would not have affected (he paddockers and scutchers at all. There would he about ISO tons in the paddocks of the jwo mills when the strike occurred, (ho approximate value of which would he about £7,000. Neither the paddockers nor made any attempt to resume work on the day following the Stoppage of wark. There was no reason, as far as witness knew, why these men should have stopped work. Ingram spoke jo witness on Tuesday—'four days after (ho strike —and said be was quite prepared to work, M'itness gave further evidence as to (he mills being ready to work at any time should the men have gone hack, Seymour A. Carter, manager at the M'eka mill, gave evidence as to (he scutchers working for a short time after luncheon on the date in question, until a mag named Taylor came across from the Miranni mill. After some conversation with Taylor, Ihe sculchcrs ceased working, and on witness asking why, Franks said the men had no grievance themselves, and suggested (hat they go across to the Miranni mill and persuade the men to resume work. Frederick J. Barden, foreman of the scutching shed at Miranni, stated that his scutchers, five in number, resumed work after the dinner hour on September 7(h. These were Rotter, Perkiim, Johns, McLean aqd Mercer, and they put in 45 minutes at work, then ceased operations without making any statement, and made no attempt either then or afterwards to resume woyk, Richard Webb, manager, also gave evidence. McLean and Mercer were, temporary hands, and only on in place of the night shift scutchers, who were to go back |o their day duties. M'itness had informed McLean and Mercer at midday that when they had finished the straight fibre to go on with the rough stuff us day labourers. - They had finished the straight work, and could pleajm themselves if they went on with the rough stuff. His M'orship dismissed the eases against J. McLean and Ingram, they being temporary contractors, and reserved his decision in the cases of the other scutchers and paddockers.,

Mr. Cooper. - entered a plea of guilty in connection with the employees at the M'eka mill —Taylor, M’hitmore, Ropata, and Swind— were p fipecUOv