FLAXWORKERS AND MILLERS CONFER

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4528, 8 November 1930, Page 2

FLAXWORKERS AND MILLERS CONFER

At the instigation of a number of local unemployed tlaxworkers, a conference between the men and the millers was held in the Racing (’ltd), olli'ee last evening. There was mi attendance of about seventy tlaxworkers while the millers were represented by the following, all of whom are members of the N.Z. I'’laxmillers’ Association: Messrs D. it. Ogil.vy (president), W. H. Wilson, J. S. Moir,’Herman Seifert, W. Nye jnr., (4. Rough, C. and W. Speiiw, A. '.Eraser and G. V. Eraser (secretary). Mr. L. McCarthy was also present. On the motion of Mr. R. Shaw, the Mayor (Mr. M. E. Permian) was voted to the chair. OBJECT OE THE MEETING. Mr. Shaw outlined the object of the meeting, which, he said, had been called for the purpose of discussing the present posilion with regard to the llaxmilling industry lo see if there was any possibility of getting the mills going. Jle would li'kc the President of the Association to place (lie facts regarding the industry before the meeting and tell the men at exactly what wage liic mills would be able to reopen in order that they could get hack to work.

WAGES KEDUCTION OE ONE Till til) NECESSARY.

Mr. I). It. Ogilvy thanked the 1110:1 for inviting the millers to attend tlit* conference and said the position was desperate and if anything could .be done that night to assist, it would he very satisfactory. As they all knew several deputations had gone to Wellington on the matter and as a matter of fact he had only just arrived hack from there where tie had learnt 1 hat assistance was as far off as over. The Government could not give any assistance in the direction of a subsidy before the Unemployment Board was set up and when that was done there would he

lot of detail to be gone into and it would he at least three or four mouths before any assistance could he forthcoming. The hemp marbet was just as had as ever and personally he could not see any hope of improvement there. Some millers might differ in their opinions but a previous deputation to 1 he Government had stated that, the millers could not re-open unless wages were reduced by 33 1-3 per cent, all round and even then the millers would lose money. SUSPENDING THE AWARD. Tim chairman said that there seemed to be a feeling amongst the men that the Award should he'suspended, it being contended that such an action would assist in getting over the difficulty. He did not •know what steps would he necessary to do that, hut it seemed to he the only way out. The millers could not give lower wages unless the Award was suspended. He understood that both parties would have to agree to the suspension but lie thought the first move in that direction should come from the men. Mr. D. Elhvood: The millers’ offer is u reduction of 33 1-3 per cent, off wages i —Yes. Mr. It. Shaw: That means 5/- oil 15/- per day. The men would receive 10/- a day. The chairman: The price of hemp to-day is too low to allow millers to pay A ward wages. A I .EG A U OPINION .

Mr. R. Shaw said that he had obtained a legal opinion on the proposal and it would be necessary for a general meeting of the Union to be called and a resolution passed at that meeting accepting the 33 1-3 per cent, reduction before anything could be done. The meeting would then have to instruct !lu*. Union Executive to apply for a variation of the Award, but lie was of the opinion that the Executive as at present constituted would not agree to do that.

The chairman: Then we are at. a deadlock again. Mr. Shaw suggested that a deputation apply to the Government for a, subsidy on wages instead of on the linished product. Air. Ogiivy said that they had already asked for that, hut it would entail such a tremendous amount of work that it was impracticable It could be put into operation on Hie output however, and would umouiit to the same thing in the imd.

I ’REFA RED TO ACCEPT REDUCED WAGES.

Mr. Shaw: It is not a case of what we are willing to do hut a case of what we can do. There is not a tmi'ii in this room to-night who is not prepared to go back to work at reduced wages. W'e can’t live much longer on Council relief wodk at 7/- a week. He considered that the best tiling to do would be for a deputation of employees to wait on the Government. He mentioned that lie had sent a telegram to the Acting-Prime Aliuister on Afonday pointing out the seriousness of the position locally and the Hon. Ransom had replied informing him that-he would confer with the Aiinister for Labour on Ids return to Wellington which would take place that day. AH. J. Johnson: Did you get the authority of the Union to send that wire? Mr. Shaw: N T o.

Air. Johnson: Then you shouldn’t have done so without the authority

SUSPENSION OF AWARD URGED. MEN WILL ACCEPT LOWER WAGES. GENERAL MEETING OF UNION TO BE HELD WILL LOCAL MEN BE OUTVOTED?

of the Union. Mr. Shaw: It was done on behalf 01. the women and children of Foxton who are hungry. Mi 1 . Johnson: You should have asked the Union’s permission first. “UNION BE D — .>> Mr. Shaw: (with some heat): “Union he <1Mr. D. Ellwood said that if the millers could pay 12/0 a day the men could possibly gjet together and wait on the Minister and urge the Government to subsidise the wages by 1/0 bringing (hem up to 14/- a day. The Government would not offer below that figure on account of relief work. There had been a lot of deputations and nothing done. Thirtythree and a third per cent, was a big reduction, especially when the amount of broken time was taken into consideration. The men had only to lose a day or two a week and what with rent and other payments to meet they would be'as far 1 behind as ever.

The chairman : You are losing a lot of time now.

ROYALTY REDUCTION.

Continuing-, Mr. Ellwood said that the reduction should he all round and should apply to the royally on-llax as well. He suggested that twelve Union men be selected to dismiss tin 1 matter thoroughly aud it they agreed to accept the reduction it would he all right. If not it be put to the vote. The chairman : I wilf take a resolution on the matter, h’El MICTION O F 1/- PER DAY. Mr. R. Shaw: To see how many men are prepared to take a reduction in wages 1 will move that we accept a reduction of 1/- a day. The Chairman: What about the 33 1-3 reduction? Mr. Shaw: The millers say they can’t give more than 10/- a day, Imt it is impossible to live on 10/a day. The Prime Minister said that: lie did not ef-pect any man to live at under 14/- a day so it is up to tin' Government to- subsidise us.’ The bigger towns get all the money and the smaller ones none. Mir. F. -Smith seconded the motion.

An amendment was moved however by M.r. J. Johnson that the men aceetpt the 33 1-3 reduction offered. This was seconded by Mr J. Newton.

On the. amendment being put it was declared lost on a show of hands, only five voting for it. The motion was then put and carried.

The chairman: Well it is hopeless to expect the mills to start at a reduction of 1/- a day. The millers can only get Ayliat is offered for the hemp. They would like to pay Ihe full rates and more if possible. It is impossible to carry on under the circumstances and the best -thing for you men to do is to seek employment in some other industry. DEPUTATION TO GOVERNMENT. Mr. Shaw then moved that a deputation of employees wait on the Government and see if a subsidy could not he got on wages as outlined. 'This motion was seconded by Mr J. Hull and carried unanimously. The chairman: Well, its in your own hands now to get together and see what you can do.

Air. Ogiivy said that they had already approached the Government on the lines indicated by AH. Shaw. The Government bad been asked on several occasions to subsidise the wages to bring them up to the Award rate of pay but nothing could lie done until the Unemployment Board was set up.

The chairman said that he could see a lot of faces amongst those present belonging to men who had plenty of suggestions to make with regard to the. matter on the street. Why were they not making them at I he meeting? MILLERB RETIRE ANB ATEN CONFER.

Mr. Ogiivy suggested that it might help if the millers left the meeting temporarily. This offer was accepted by the men but an in- >. Ration was extended to the Press lo remain.

After the millers had withdrawn Mr. I). Ellwood was elected to the .-hair and called for suggestions. He said that''now that they were all together<\Yas their, chance to speak. Were they in favour of suspending- the Award? A voice: The offer would be all right if the nulls worked full time. Mr. Ellwood said that when the matter had been put to the vote he had noticed that it was only the •single men who had supported accepting the 33 1-3 per cent, reduction. He suggested that they be reduced by 45 per cent, and the married men increased accordingly. Air. Johnson: We can have no distil lotions like that.

Air. E. Lockwood: if we accept the offer would it be legal under the Award?

' Mir. Ellwood: Nothing can be done before the Arbitration Award is suspended. Nothing can be done to-night that will not have to go before the Union. It means we will have to breaks the Union. Air. Shaw: Are the men prepared to accept a greater reduction than 1/v- a day? Voices: No.

Mr. Shaw: Then the millers are not prepared lo give more th&A

10/r a day so what is the good of going to the Arbitration Court on the matter. 'The only solution is to go to the Government. A voice: That has been tried before. “LOT OF LAZY SLEEPING . DOGS.” Mr. Shaw: Have we tried it? There has not been a working man on previous deputations. We have been like a lot of lazy sleeping dogs. The Prime Minister has the matter under review and he Avas not far aAvay from Foxton to-day. I sent him a Avire on Monday and all I got- for it was a roar tonight. - T ‘AiR>E THE MEN BAMBOOZLED.” Mr. Ellwood said that he had fried to get a meeting of the men prior to the half yearly meeting of the Union. If that meeting had been held and some resolution passed it could then have been put to the half yearly Union meeting and they Avould have heen so .much further on. As it Avas he put a resolution to that meeting and what did he get? He was told that the Union wasn’t helping' the millers it Avas ■there to. help the men. He had no one to back him up and his resolution was defeated. If the men had attended that meeting as was their duty, in the same manner in which they had Hocked to the meeting that evening' they might have had some-thing-done by noAv. lie didn’t knoAV why they had not attended. Was it that they were frightened too many representatives from Shannon would be there to bamboozle them? Mr. FALockwood said that there had not been sufficient notice given of the meeting. He had not heard of it until the afternoon of the 'meeting Avhen ho had ' made arrangements to go elsewhere. Mr. A. O’Reilly said that the meeting had been called for 2.30 p.m. and was commenced at 2 p.m. It wasn’t much good going iii Avhen the meeting Avas half over'. [Reverting to the business before the meeting, Mr. Shaw said that any action should be held over until he received a reply from the Ac-ting-Prime Minister Avith regard to his conference Avith the Minister for Labour. Then the Government could be asked to subsidise the Avages up to 14/- a day.. Mr. Ellwood said that it didn’t matter if the Prime Minister did agree to the subsidy the Arbitration Award Avould still have to be suspended and unless they did something in that direction that night they would be no further ahead.

Mr. Shaw: If the Government agrecs to the subsidy Ave can then apply for a variation of the Award and the sooner the better. Mr. Ellwood asked if they were prepared to have the Award suspendid. It Avas impossible to accept even 14/- a day under it, he pointed out.

Mr. Shaw: That’s no good because the millers won’t give more than 10/- a day. If we suspend the Award there tvon’t be a bale of libre leave Wellington Harbour.

SUSPENSION OF AWARD. Air. Johnson: To settle the matter I Avill move that the Arbitration AAvard be suspended, but in doing so he stated he Avould not vote for the motion. Mr. J. Newton seconded the motion, but it Avas declared lost on the A r ote.

Air. NeArton then suggested that a limit to the time of the suspension be fixed. Air. Johnson said that that Avas not possible as the whole tiling was based on the cost of living. .

Air. W. Walker: That means we have got to live on the smell of an oil rag then.

Mr. J. Newton insisted that it was possible to have the award suspended for a limited time and moved that the Award he suspended for six months. The motion was seconded by Mr. F. Lockwood.

Mr. K. Shaw moved an amendment that if the Government was prepared to subsidise the wages up to 14/- a. day the men accept a reduction in wages of 1/- a day. This was seconded. Mr. Lockwood: If the amendment is earned' it will mean more delay.

The motion was then put and carried, the count being as follows: —For the motion 23, against 14.

Mr. J. O’Keefe asked if all those who voted were Union members. Mr. Ell wood: We are all supposed to be.

Mr. Shaw said that the notice convening the meeting stated “flaxmill employees” were invited to ho present. Mr T. Garter: That doesn’t mean Union men.

UNION SUBSCRIPTIONS IN AKBEAItS:

Mr. F. Lockwood: I don’t think any of us are Union men. I’m one of the most iiuancial in the room hnd I’m nine months in arrears with my Union subscription. Mr. Garter: Does the Union keep us?

It was Anally agreed that the motion was in order.

Mr. Ellwood said the procedure now would be to write to the Union secretary and ask him to put the matter to the vote. Mi’. Shaw was elected minute secretary to have this done and Messrs Ellwood and Carter were elected to co-operate with him. The millers were then invited to return and were informed of the resolution passed. Mr. Ogilvy said that the step was one in the light direction.

Mr. Ellwood aslked the millers if they would agree to a sliding scale of pay with the 10/- a day as a minimum in the event of the price hemp rising.

ALL THE CARDS ON THE TABLE. The millers adjourned to discuss the question and on their return Mr. Ogilvv stated that they Avere of opinion that the fairest thing to do Avould be for the millers to meet .delegates from the men once a month in the eyent of the AAvard being suspended, Avhen the millers would be quite prepared to lay all their cards on the table (applause). If libre Avent up lie felt quite sure the millers would be only too pleased to increase tbc wages as the last thing they wanted was low wages. (Hear, hear). Unfortunately, though, lie could not see any rise in (lie price of fibre within the time stated. NOT A-S BAD AS THEY ARE PAINTED.

Mr. T. Carter reminded the men that a few years ago when they were Avorking for 10/- a day the priee of fibre rose and the millers increased Ihe men's wages 3/- a day and that was not done by any Union, bill by the millers themselvos. Tie bad Avalked into the oflice ini pay day and had been told “your wages went up 3/- a day as from last pay day, on account of a rise in the price of fibre.” Tie did not- Mi ink Unit the millers would Avoid; to (ramp on the workers once, the Award was abolished. Me urged the men to get together and he united on the step they had taken that night. He reminded them of; an occasion some years ago when Koxton had to light a matter similar to Ibis. The men had combined and the millers had provided, buses to take them to the meeting at. Palmerston North and it was only by the cleverness of one of their members, Mr. T. ChuHey, and the fact- that, the men were united that they had won through, and then only bv one vote. When the Union called Ihe meeting to deal with the resolution passed that night they should- remember Ihe-ae things and get together. They had to remember that there was a 810 FOLLOWING OVER THE RIVER

and if the Arbitration Award was to be suspended every man in Poxlon would have to attend that meeting to fight the opposition. I know every man here to-night is willing to go back to work for less wages, said Air. Carter, but if we let the other side of the river rule us we will, never get the A ward lifted. Mi-. ShaAV said that if only the 23 men who voted foi; the motion went along to the meeting they would be badly lashed. They would want at least 100. Mr. Lockwood: It all depends on .the married men. The single men (■an live on 10/- a day. Mr. Carter: But how many can live on nothing? AN IMPORTANT POINT.

Mr. Ellwood, who has had years of experience in the spinning trade in England, said that unless the mills Avere got going before Christmas, NeAV Zealand fibre would be off the market altogether and the men Avould then be glad to Avork for 8/- a day. If the spinners at Home once changed their machinery over to take Sisal and Manilla it Avould be very hard to get them to go badk bo New Zea- . land fibre.

Mr. Carter uttered a final plea for all the men to attend the Union meeting and for them to vote for the resolution. Votes of thanks were then accorded the millers for their atten(iunee and Air. Pcrrcau for presiding mid the meeting terminated.

The following letter has been lorwarded to the Union Secretary by Mr Slmw, in accordance with the wishes of last night’s meeting: “Mr P. T. Robinson, Palmerston Nlh. Dear Sir. —At a repersentat ivo meeting of flaxmill employees and llaxmiilors held here last night il was resolved to instruct the executive of the Union to apply for a suspension of the existing award for six months. I am accordingly instructed to request you to take the necessary steps to have this resolution placed before the members of the Union at the earliest opporI unify.—Yours faith fully, R. N. ’SHAW,”