THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2290, 16 June 1921, Page 3

THE HEMP INDUSTRY.

MILLS WILL SHORTLY RESUME

SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS WITH WORKERS.

Owing to the low price of hemp ruling, millers were compelled, some three months ago, to close down, as it was found impossible to carry on and meet overhead expenses. The state of affhirs was reviewed by millers and employees, and ultimately the latter decided to accept a new scale of wages submitted by th.j Association. The rates of pay and conditions of employment in the new agreement are as follows: —Day work, 14s per day; feeders, 15s per day; stripper-keeper, 2s Cd per day extra; horse, drivers, £4 2s per week; automatic scutchers, lbs per ton, tow presses, 17s per ton, One press; hand scutchers, 29s per ton power press, 30s per ton hand press; paddocking with carting 32s summer rate, 35s winter rate; paddocking without carting, 23s summer rate, 26s winter rate; compulsory stacking, 2s 6d per ton of fibre to be added to paddocking' rate; paddocking, day work 14s per day; flaxcutting, minimum rate 7s Od per ton; tramming, 3d per ton reduction on last- year’s rate. The rate to be charged for board to be 24s per week, provided that if any employer, contract cook, lessc | or licensee of the cookhouse shall charge, or attempt to charge more than 24s per week, the matter shall be referred to the union, which, having regard to the conditions prevailing at the mill in question, shall adjust the matter between the owner of the mill and the employees interested on a basis satisfactory to the parties, and pending or failing such adjustment, no contract cook, etc., to charge any sum greater than 2-ls per week. The agreement to date from June 24th, 1921, and to be terminated by either side, on their giving 30 days notice of their intention to do so, and a conference of both parties shall he called immediately to deal with any issue involved. There has been a spirit of conciliation between both parties, and although it is questionable in the present state of tin) market, whether some of the local millers will more than cover overhead expenses, they are prepared to set the machinery in motion in the hope of an improved market. The opening of the mills will give employment to a large number of men who are at present engaged in casual work. There aic usually in normal times 32 strippers at work, and the wages amount to about £2OO per stripper per fortnight. Most of the. mills have been closed for three months now, so that the loss of wages runs to nearly £40,000, though it must he remembered that the mills, or some of them at least, are idle ta this time each year. COST OF PRODUCTION MUST BE LOWERED.

In the course of an interview with a Standard reporter, Mr It. T. Bell, president of the New Zealand I'laxmillers’ Association, said it was imperative that the cost of production should be lowered if the mills were to resume operations, and it was'in view of this fact that both parties had entered into the agreement stated above to meet the situation and come into line with other industries. “The cost of producton will have to be brought down,” continued Mr Bell, “if our exports are to be maintained. We must have the turnover if we are to continue to prosper. The land on which flax grows in the Manawatu, especially in the Makerua, has been systematically drained for years, and the soil sweetened to such an extent, and is now of such good quality, that if flax dressing is not payable, the millers cannot allow these areas to remain in flax, because they are the best for dairying and fattening purposes. The prices for other fibres throughout the world have fallen generally, and therefore we have to meet competition. The reduction in freight does not mean much to the milter, as the coal strike in England and the shipping and railway strikes in America have disorganised trade generally, and we are suffering accordingly. But, as far as New Zealand hemp is concerned, it is no worse off than any other of our export-. T have had the impression for some time that communities in the cities (including all sections, especially the waterside workers) have no conception at all of what the people in the country are putting up with, and unless the workers’ demands for wages and conditions are considerably altered to come into line with the country’s present situation, our exports must be seriously curtailed, and this, in turn, will affect them.” Commenting on the resumption of milling, the MD. Times says -.—“ The members of the Flaxmillers’ Union iri the Manawatu district have set a worthy example to other industrial organisations throughout the Dominion. Recognising that the millowners were.faced with an unfavourable market, and that the industry could only be maintained if the overhead charges were reduced, the workers have voluntarily accepted a lower rate of wages. The result will be that an avenue for employment will be fqund for hundreds of labourers who would otherwise be driven to seek relief at the hands of the State. If the same reasonable and common-sense attitude were adopted by the shearers and other labour organisations, much unemployment and distress would be averted, and the development of industry would be attended with beneficial results to all sections of the community. Unhappily, there are