THE FLAXMILLING INDUSTRY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9390, 9 March 1909, Page 5

THE FLAXMILLING INDUSTRY.

Sir,—l am requested by the Management Committee of the above Union to call your attention to the following inaccuracy which crept into the editorial notes in your issue of the 2nd instant. Yon state therein that a deputation of flaxmill hands waited upon the Minister “and put forward arguments that they should receive more money for their work, not because it is of more value than it used to be, not because its market price is higher, but because the price of the article produced is higher than it was some years ago.” We have read very carefully all the different reports of the various papers concerning the deputation and in no case can we find any justification for such a false conclusion as that drawn above. The sole object of the deputation was to show that it was not the working of the Arbitration Court’s award which was crippling the industry the oppressive exaction of excessive royalties, and we claim that the figures submitted established the justice of this argument, We are sure that the Advocate’s invariable sense of fair play will ensure the this correction.—l am, etc., ' « PERCY T. ROBINSON, Secretary, Manawatn Flaxmills Employees Union.

[Possibly we have mistaken the object of the Union. Bat it seems to us that if employees would confer with employers, arrange more favonable conditions of working, and then apply for alteration of the award, there would be some chance for the continuance of the industry to give profits to both parties. As to royalties, according to Mr R, K. Simpson the Union’s information in regard to Heaton Park was not correct, and it is possible the others may also he incorrect. It is also fairly clear that if the owners of flax lands become convinced that the industry will cease unless the royalties are lowered they will meet the situation by accepting less.—Ed. B.A.]