UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG FLAX-WORKERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3646, 2 June 1927, Page 3

UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG FLAX-WORKERS.

(To The Editor)

Sir, —Now that the spectre of unemployment has placed a largo number of working men in a state of idleness in Foxton, I would take this opportunity of bringing to the public notice the action of the Executive of the Flaxmills Employees Union, presumably through their secretary, in any case, not on a vote of the men concerned, where a local firm of: flaxmillers in order to keep a gang of men together, and also to provide employment for a large number of men, made an offer to their cutters to take delivery of flax at the river bank at a price that was considered by the majority of the cutters satisfactory and also a means of keeping themselves in work during the winter months, as well as keeping a large number of men who depended on the running of their strippers also employed, as well as a number employed on the river service. Upon the Secretary of the Employees’ Union becoming aware of the above offer, he promptly quoted the Award for that class of work and took such steps which rendered efforts of the employees and the willingness of the men to work under the offer made, at once abortive. Now, Sir, there is no law, man made, that says a man shall not work. On the contrary the very foundation of Unionism today is the right to work and also in the constitution of the political side, the right of freedom of thought, speech and action. Yet, it is alleged, these men were told that if they worked they would be called “scabs.” How terrible! This Union Secretary must know that he is false to the creed of the Labour movement when he is a party to breaking up co-operation on the job, moreso as Labour seeks to gain control of the means of production, distribution and exchange. No doubt it would mean that a few who hold down fat jobs giving nothing useful in exchange, would Ijave to produce, in other words, do some useful work. Hence, while they put up that parrot cry they at the same time conveniently forget what they profess to encourage. To use the argument that the offer was under the Award rate for that particular class of work is beside the ( point, as the offer finally was cooperative pure and simple, and made simply to keej) those men and their dependants during the lyinier months. It will be asked what right I have to criticise this Union as I am not a member. I answer what right has the secretary to he a party to forcing not only the Union men out of work, but several others, like myself whom the Union has no connection with. Yet our living is taken away. I uphold Unionism providing it is conducted in the best interests of the men, but when it is conducted to the detriment of the members and against an industry that has to meet such strong foreign competition, then it sadly needs overhauling. I have seen the industry from both sides, and in my opinion, it is one that in order to keep it alive, needs more of the spirit of co-oper-ation, on the part of both employers and employees, and to bring about that end is with the men themselves who are employed in the industry, eliminating those whose only interest is holding down fat jobs, sure of their salary, while a large number of men are rendered idle for months. I would like to ask does the secretary expect to get paid during those months of idleness, or does lie keep the daisies down, looking for the wherewithal to live upon. Foxton’s mainstay industry needs a Union of its own, run by those who are employed in it, eliminating paid officials who are hopelessly out of touch with them and refuse to be dragged at the heels of any Communist clique. Then only will they be in a position to meet and deal with such an offer as was made recently by a firm as above to the satisfaction of employer and employee, thus eliminating a long period of officially enforced idleness. Thanking vou, Sir, E. G. MARTIN.