HOW A STRIKE WAS CALLED OFF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 40402, 16 January 1930, Page 2

HOW A STRIKE WAS CALLED OFF.

Strikes and hold-ups are things generally associated with the ilaxi idling industry and according to an incident related at the meeting of the X.Z. Flaxmille/rs’ Association on Monday have, from the earbest times, characterised this industry. Many years ago, when the industry was in its infancy, a vetvi nn miller now resident in tills district and whose name is a byword where llax is concerned, opened up a mill at the head of Lake Wanaka in the South Island. Tho mill was supplied by an excellent valley of llax and men were engaged to cut the green blade at a ligure in the vicinity of 5/- per ton. They started all right but it was not long before they decided to strike for higher pay as they considered it impossible to cut a ton a day. When the miller heard of the matter he met the men and told them that he could easily cut two tons of Jinx a day and there .was no reason why they could not do the same. The men tooiki him at his word and challenged him to try his hand at the hook. Although he had not cut (lax for some years, he took off his coat and in five and a half hours bad cut two tons of the green blade. Having proved his statement the men were quite prepared to return to their cutting at the figure stated and the strike was called off.