SLIDING SCALE IMPRACTICABLE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3865, 1 November 1928, Page 3

SLIDING SCALE IMPRACTICABLE.

UNANIMOUS DECISION OF FLAXMILLERS. TEN PER CENT. REDUCTION TEMPORARY. UNTIL AW)AED RATES CAN BE PAID. A general meeting of. the New Zealand Flaxmillers’ Association was held at Foxton on Thursday afternoon when the following resolution was unanimously carried after full and careful discussion: — The millers look upon the present temporary arrangement providing for a ten per cent, reduction on award rates as being solely an emergency measure to carry the industry on until hemp prices rise to a level at which award rates can be paid and do not consider it in any sense as initiating a sliding scale. This meeting is of opinion that a sliding scale is. impracticable, beleving that it would lead to endless trouble and friction between employers and employees. UNION DECISION NOT APPROVED BY LOCAL EMPLOYEES. The local mills are again closed as a result of the uncompromising attitude of the workers Union in refusing to accept the temporary 10 per cent, reduction on award rates until hemp reaches £27 10/- per ton. This decision does not meet with the approval of a majority of the local employees who are anxious and willing to meet the situation, as they realise that the Foxton millers arc handicapped with heavier costs than those outside, but they are outvoted in union affairs. The result is that about 200 employees are again idle with no prospect of immediate employment. We are reliably informed that fully 80 per cent, of the local workers are so dissatisfied with the decision of the recent union meeting that they are anxious to break away and form a-separate union and apply for an award based on local conditions. NO FEELING OF ANTAGONISM. There is no feeling of antagonism between the local employees and employers and the former are ready to support a. proposal to vary the award re the 10 per cent, reduction, until hemp reaches the price upon which the present award is based. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ATTITUDE. A correspondent writes asking why the Chamber of Commerce has not taken any action in the matter as the closing, of the mills is against the public interest. In reply we may state that the Chamber is prepared to hold a public meeting to discuss the matter from a public interest and welfare position, but such meeting would be futile until all other meass of settling the dispute between the parties has been exhausted. It is hoped that an appeal will be made at an early date to the Arbitration Court to vary the award and in this connection the Chamber strongly approves.