(To the Editor)
Sir, —T, like many others of the public, think Mint it is high time I Ik* present dismal situation in the l!ax industry Vvas brought to a close. Ami to bring- about that objective only requires that the spirit of sweet reasonableness be allowed to prevail on both sides, when l all the cards can be laid upon the table for examination. Discontent is growing- stronger daily towards the apathy of the Cnion oftieials towards the situation, and in any move made the men would be well advised to eliminate the oftieials and settle the question without them. I would remind the men on the occasion of a previous hold up in the industry mi official of the Union swore in the Arbitration Court that the millers were making- huge profits. Yet recently the same official supported a deputation of millers in Wellington when they said they < ould not mill under £2a per ton. As f have advocated on previous occasions, 1 still maintain that the men would he better off and "working-, were they to* form a local committee of equal numbers to the millers to govern conditions as prevail in the industry locally. Sir, to say that the millers are free from blame is wrong, for if they were really sincere they would have shown some effort to bring about a move in the wheels of the mills. The sum total of the position is this, the men are under the yoke of a set of officials who have a stranglehold upon them and the millers are afraid of the sliding scale. They are just as willing as the men, to open the mills under the sliding- scale, but not so willing for it to work should fibre rise in price. If the men are prepared to work at reduced rates surely its only just for them to be compensated when the prices rise. There is one other aspect and that is the overhead expenses of the miller. From what 1 have seen there are too many getting- a picking out of the industry that could very well be done without in these times of depression. I have been waiting for a long time to see our worthy .Mayor make an effort to bring hot h pa rt i/es Itog-et hep, hull the blackgunrding he received from a certain Union official no doubt has . dumped his ardour, where it should have stiffened it. Should he desire to move lie must not forget lie has the forces of law and order behind him to deal with the element whose intelligence has not risen above its socks. Should the men make a move they can rely upon Ihe support of the public, and if no result comes of it they can at. least say they were sincere, and retain the support of the public, which is now rapidly ebbing. The question is when is the move to be made. Men object to charity but women and children are in dire want in Foxton. Will the men cast the yoke of a set of bullies, or will they still submit to having their liberty filched from them. Yours, etc., E. <x. M,A'R;I£N.
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Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4514, 7 October 1930, Page 2
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534Untitled Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4514, 7 October 1930, Page 2
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