Flaxmillers Hold Day's Demonstration.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 86, 1 November 1912, Page 8

Flaxmillers Hold Day's Demonstration.

ACCOMMODATION QUESTION

WEBB, SE.UPLK .A XI) RICHARDS

PRESKXT,

JA!U?JGS AMD LOCK-OUTS,

Notwithstanding nil belittling, scoffing and misrepresentation the Haxmill-oi-s hold to their intention to take .1

day oii as a proicst against the imprisonment of unionists. Tuesday week i'almerston wits considerably enlivened by tho gathering of tho flaxios from all points, and although several of the mills wore not represented the proceedings were entirely successful.

In the Opera House a mass meeting took place, when local speakers and Messrs. Semple, Webb and Richards held forth. It was a splendid and enthusiastic turn-out. The following resolution was carried with cheers:—

"That this meeting of the Flaxmill Employees' Union unanimously protest against tho methods of an autocratic Government in the unjust jailing of the Waihi strikers, and we demand their immediate release: further, we view with indignation and alarm the outrageous tactics of the Taupiri Coal Go. in victimising the executive of the Huntly Miners' Union for carrying out the mandate of their union; and also the treatment meted out in the lockingout of the Auckland general laborers and the Kiripaka miners. We pledge ourselves to do all in our power to place victory on the side of our comrades, and we call on all unionists worthy of the name to unite as never before to meet the industrial despotism with the only power that can possibly bring jusijoe to our class —viz., solidarity of the workers. That this organisation unanimously approves of the tactics of tho Federation of Labor, and places on record its appreciation of the courageous fieht that organisation is putting up in the interests of out class, the wovking-elass."

Dealing with the vexed and irritating question of accommodation for flaxmill hands, the speaker traced the history of the fight for improved conditions since the inception of the Flnxmills Employees' Union, and pointed out tnat in making the first award in 1907 Judge Sim attached a memorandum recommending an improvement in the conditione of the accommodation provided for the employees. Notwithstanding the union's repeated appeals to the Lnjrislnture. in few cases had the conditions materially improved. TV following resolution was then unanimously carried: —

"That this meeting of the Flaxmill Employees' Union unanimously protest against the staiid taken by the employers in thwarting every effort made by the employees in attempting to constitutiottally procure for themselves decent and sanitary accommodation, and, further, unanimously protests against the action of the Government in refusing to lay on the table of the Houee an official report which set out in detail the true conditions of accommodation and sanitation a 9 are existent."

Mr. Gavin Stone, secretary, was instructed to forward the resolution? to the Prime Minister.

At this juncture it was announced to the meeting that Wesley Richards would have to leave to catch the train, en route for Waihi. He was roundly cheered on rising to leave the building, and given the following message to his comrades at Waihi: "That he convey to his comrades this meeting's best wishes and fraternal greetings in their gallant fight for the emancipation of the working-class."

A notable feature of the day's proceedings was the encouraging presence of the ladies.

On leaving the building to parade the Square a good collection was made at the door, and a large number of tickets for the dance and social in Tokomaru in aid of the wives and families of the strikers were sold.

After parading the Square, a largelyi attended meeting of citizens was addressed in the open by Messrs. Webb and Serhple, and the citizens carried unanimously the same resolution that was carried by the flaxies in the hall in the early part of the day.