FLAXMILLS CLOSING.
ANOTHER DEADLOCK OVER AGREEMENT. (FURTHER LETTER FROM ASSOCIATION TO UNION. In our last issue we published the correspondence handed to the Press by Mr. P. T. Robinson, secretary of the Flaxinills Employees' Union which had passed between himself and Mr. C. H. Speirs, President of the N.Z. Flaxmillers Association, in reference, to the position which has arisen between the parties when it was thought differences had been peacefully settled. The following further letter from the President of the Association, to Secretary of the Union was not published and we have received a copy of same for publication from Mr. C. H. Speirs:— Shannon, October 18th, 1928. P. T. Robinson Esq., Sec. Manawatu Flaxmills Employees’ Union, P.N.
“Dear Sir, —I am in receipt of your favour of 17th inst. You appear to be acting under a misapprehension as to what the present, position is: The rate-of wages to be paid was fixed at the first Wellington conference —in short, 10 per cent, off list rates until hemp averages £27 10/- f.o.b. Wellington. “The second Wellington conference was called, as you know, to receive the Prime Minister’s report on the investigations of our books and also at the same time to discuss your sliding scale or try and find some sliding scale that might be workable. In the event of our finding a sliding scale which was workable to pay our wages on, then the agreement arrived at would have taken the place of the agreement arrived at at the first conference. Unfortunately it was not possible to reach an agreement re sliding scale, therefore we must Continue to work under the agreement arrived at at the first conference and which was agreed to and notified by both parties. “The above is the interpretation of the present position as expounded by Mr. Bishop immediately after the luncheon adjournment, and this explanation was agreed to as being correct by Mr. Bromley, yourself, and by every one else present at that time.
“I really do not think the Conciliation Commissioner took any part either for or against any party to the conference, nor do I think he expressed his opinion one way or the other about anything. “I am just writing the above by way of explaining what is the correct position from my Association’s point of view, as it would be a great pity if you are going to disorganise millers and, in fact, the whole industry by instituting a lot of needless court proceedings. “Mr. Robinson', these difficulties have occurred before and have been settled in a conciliatory spirit and I fail to see why this trouble cannot be settled again in the same happy manner. It must be obvious to us all that we must have good will and good feeling if we are, to work together for our mutual benefit. Yours faithfully, C. H. SPEIRS, Pres. N.Z. Flaxmillers’ Association.” As .we pointed out in a brief paragraph in our last issue, the outlook for those employed in the tlaxmilling industry is very serious. The workers have no sooner settled down to their jobs after months of idleness, and content to accept a ten per cent, reduction on their wages until such time as the price of hemp will enable the millers to revert to the award rates, than the whole business is upset and a demand made for the full award wages. The millers, in face of this breach and in view of the impossibility to carry on and pay the award rate of wages, are reluctantly compelled to close down. This will mean throwing a large number of men out of employment, and with no prospect of finding other work locally, and inflicting hardship and suffering upon thenwives and families. The action taken by the Union officials does not, we are -informed, find favour with a large majority of the employees who are contemplating taking other steps to meet the situation. AVe understand that the Union is not in a position to afford financial assistance to those who will be reduced- to idleness and elsewhere in this issue the local storekeepers publicly notify that all credit will cease, as they have gone to the utmost limit in extending credit duf- ' ing the past period when the mills were idle. The local Chamber of Commerce will probably convene a public meeting of all concerned to discuss the situation at an early date and the Mayor is also interesting himself in the matter.
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3860, 20 October 1928, Page 3
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744FLAXMILLS CLOSING. Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3860, 20 October 1928, Page 3
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