PUBLIC MEETING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3821, 21 July 1928, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING.

TO DISCUSS FLAXMILL UNEMPLOYMENT. A meeting of the local unemployed and all those interested in the unemployment question, convened by the secretary for the Manawatu Flaxmills Employees Union, was held in the Royal Theatre on Thursday. afternoon. There was an attendance of about fifty, chiefly of local unemployed.

STATEMENT BY UNION SECRETARY. Mr. P. T. Robinson, secretary of the Flaxmills Employees Union, in opening the meeting said the reopening of the flaxmills was a matter of vital importance to- all. The position, however, was unaltered. The millers desired a reduction in wages which the Union did not approve of, considering that the ruling prices for hemp was sufficient to allow the millers to mill at a profit. . This the millers considered was not so, and the Union had asked them to produce their books in support of the allegation. If it could be proved that the millers could not show a profit at the prices obtaining, the Union would be in favour of the men accepting a reduction in wages, but the millers had failed to produce their books. Mr. Robinson outlined the result of the public meetings.and a deputation to Mr. Linldater held in Shannon (already published in this paper). The millers had asked the Union to accept a reduction of from 15/- to 13/6 and up to 25 per cent, but later had- informed Mr. Linklater that if the men would accept 14/-, and a ten per cent, reduction on piece work, the mills would reopen. Why had this request not been made to the Union? A few days ago representatives of the Shannon unemployed, together with the speaker, met Mr. 08. Seifert in Shannon to discuss the position when Mr. Seifert handed the speaker a prospectus of the Miranui Flaxmilling Co., and said he would stand by the figures quoted therein, which would show that the millers could not possibly work at the present priees. .Mr. Robinson defied anyone to shake his statement that, based on the figures in the prospectus issued by Messrs A. and L. Seifert the millers could make milling pay to-day and pay handsomely. The Miranui mill on the June figures could make £4 11s 6d profit per ton on fibre. If the men came down in their wages they were only allowing the millers to make increased profits. Mr. Robinson then submitted a chart to the meeting which showed that the cost of production of one ton of fibre including royalty was £26 18s Od. The fall in price of royalty was 9/-, and at 81 tons of green blade to the ton of fibre this totalled £3 14s 3d. This left the present cost at £23 3s 9d. The 'present price of fibre was as follows: —High Fair £26, Low Fair £23, while £2 10s Od was received for the tow. This brought the price up to £2B 10s Od for High Fair and £25 10s Od for Low Fair. Mr. Robinson said the June grading figures for Foxton and Wellington showed that 592 bales of High Fair and 190 bales of Low Fair had been graded. Taking five bales to the ton this was 118 tons of High Fair and 38 tons of Low Fair. 118 tons pf High Fair at £5 6s 3d profit equalled £626 17s 6d while 38 tons of Low Fair at £2 6s 3d netted £B7 17s 6d. The profit thus shown on 156 tons was £714 15s Od or £4 11s 6d per ton. MAYOR ADVOCATES A COMPROMISE. Mr. M. E. Perreau (Mayor) said he felt it his duty to attend the meeting. He was only too pleased to assist in any way, if possible, to bring about the opening of the mills. He did not think it was a fair thing for Mr. Robinson to quote figures from a prospectus which was compiled with a view to selling shares. He also referred to the fact that in the North where there was no Union, the flaxworkers had been apprised of the fact that a reduction of wages would have to obtain when the prices dropped or else the mills would close down. They had accepted the reduction and were still at work. He understood that that could not be done here on account of the Award. A number of men had approached him on the matter of unemployment and said they were prepared to go to work at the wages offered by the millers. He would like to see some compromise arrived at between the workers and millers in order that all this unemployment should be overcome. A SECRET BALLOT. Mr. Robinson in reply said that the prospectus had been given him by Mr. Seifert who said he stood by the figures contained in it. With regard to accepting the millers offer. If Foxton decided to go to work and Shannon, for instance, did not, then a secret ballot would be taken of all members of the Union on the question and the request of the majority abided by. Mr, Robinson said he did not blame the millers one bit for wanting to get wages down as low as possible, but they must not blame the workers for fighting to retain their wages. Mr. Perreau: Compromise. UNION FAVOURS SLIDING SCALE. Mi*. Robinson said a sliding scale of wages was suggested by the Union and after finality was almost reached at a conference between the millers and the Union the matter fell through. It was the best proposition he knew of, provided it was a sliding scale that operated both ways and not only in favour of the miller. Mr. Barnard: If a sliding scale is agreed to it will mean breaking the Award.

Mr. Robinlfm: If a sliding scale is agreed to I will guarantee to have the Award amended in less than a week. INSPECTION OF MILLERS’ BOOK'S.

Mr. Robinson said if the millers were agreeable to an inspection being made of their books a competent accountant would be employed to go through them, and report as to whether the millers could show a profit on the existing prices or not. His word would be sufficient for the Union, and the contents of the books would be strictly confidential. Mr. Robinson referred to the profits that had been made out of (lax in the past and also touched on the assistance which the Union offered the Flaxmillers’ Association in connection with obtaining a grant for research work, which had not been availed of. He also read a copy of a letter forwarded members of Parliament by the Association which the Association bad sent the Union. The letter contained a request for a subsidy when the price of hemp fell below £25, and mentioned that the millers were prepared to have their books inspected in support of their contention that milling could not be carried out successfully at the present prices. That letter Mr. Robinson referred to as a hoax. After further discussion a motion was moved by Mr. F. Shaw “That it be a suggestion to the Executive of the Union that failing any better proposition, the Executive endeav/our to arrange a sliding scale of wages with the flaxmillers.”

-This was seconded and on being put to the meeting was carried unanimously. v . The matter will come before the Executive at Shannon on Saturday, and a probable conference between the Union and millers will be held in Shannon on the Monday.