THE FLAXMILLS DISPUTE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1994, 24 June 1919, Page 3

THE FLAXMILLS DISPUTE.

QUESTION OP WAGES

THE EMPLOYERS’ OFFER

The following letter has been forwarded to us for publication : (To the Editor.)

Sir, —A* (boro appears lo be a £ood deal of uncertainly ami speculation on the part of the general public at the present time as to the position that has arisen between the flaxmillers ami their employees, it may be an opportune time to place at your disposal for general information the sense of a resolution passed at the last meeting of our association. Appended is the resolution carried: —

“.Seeing that it appears impossible to meet the Union under conditions acceptable to the individual members of the Association, that the Union be informed that the Association members offer the following scale of wages, and as this is the highest rate that the members in the present state of the industry are prepared to pay to warrant them resuming operations, the only other solution that the Association sees is that the matter be referred to the Arbitration Coart: Cutting, 20 per cent, off previous rates; paddocking, with carting, summer 325, winter 355; without carting, summer 235, winter 20s; automatic scutcher, one press 17s (id, two presses 10s, including pressing tow 18s Od; hand scutcher, 30s; daywork, Is 7UI per hour; feeders, Is Pd per hour; feeder and stripper keeper, 2s (id extra per day.

(Signed) R. IT. Spencer, Sec. N.Z. Flaxmillcrs’ Assn, June 23rd, 1919.

lu conversation with one interested in (lie hemp industry, a “Herald” representative was informed Unit the present industrial outlook so far as the industry is concerned is tint; bright. “I’m salislied,” said our informant, “that Ids per day, which the men are demanding 1 does not leave much of a margin for the married man who has a family- lo support. But men employed in the sheds and hy the Borough Council are not getting' this wage, and I would like to know why the llaxmilJing industry is sorted out to pay this as a minimum. Another thing, youths of 18 years of age are claiming (he .same wage, whereas a little while ago they worked for 7s (id a day, now it is 11s or nothing. There are higher wages lo he earned in the industry hy men who are a nihil ions to got on. A good stripper-keeper can command .Q per day. But how many good stripper-keepers are there in the district? Why, you could count I hem on the lingers of one hand . Hundreds of tons of jihre are low graded Ijoeause of indifferent stripping, yet very few show any desire to improve themselves in this connection. Then, how many employees show any ambition to master the engine and plant? An experienced man in this line can always depend upon good wages. Take washing. I maintain that it takes three months experience at this before a man can claim to he an experienced washer. Yet millers are expected to pay incompetents Ids per day. If boys are employed they should be trained properly in every branch for a certain period, and when competent, paid award wages, or more according te« their ability, hut not stalled off on full wages. In my opinion, the As-' soeiation should classify the work and compel efficiency and pay accordingly.