ALLEGED VICTIMISATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3848, 22 September 1928, Page 2

ALLEGED VICTIMISATION.

OF TWO FLAXWORKERS’ DELEGATES. SPECIAL MEETING HELD LAST NIGHT. Last evening a meeting of members of the Manawatu Flaxworkers’ Union, convened by the secretary (Mr. P. T. Robinson) was held in the Town Hall supper-room. The attendance was not large considering the! number of flax workers employed in this district, only 32 members being present, including the secretary. The Mayor (Mr. Perreau) and Press representative were refused admittance to the meeting. In asking for permission to be present the Mayor said that he was there in the interests of Foxton, and a meeting of such a nature as was convened that night was of vital interest to the people of Foxton in view of past unemployment. The request was not submitted to the meeting, but Mr. Robinson said the meeting was for flaxworkers only and neither the Mayor nor the Press could be present. Before withdrawing the Mayor urged upon the meeting to give very careful deliberation to what was before the meeting before committing themselves to anything which would be against the best interests of the workers and Foxton. The object of the meeting was “to consider the victimisation of the two delegates who attended conference with the Prime Minister and Flaxmillers.” The men concerned, we are informed, were employed on tramming work prior to the closing of the mills and were allegedly assured of preference in regard to the contract work when the mills resumed. They were delegates to conference in the interval, but on the mills resuming, and tenders being called for the work a lower price for the work was received from another party, who consequently got the job.