FLAXMILLING HOLD-UP.

Shannon News, 24 August 1928, Page 4

FLAXMILLING HOLD-UP.

POWER BOARD REVENUE AFFECTED. REARRANGEMENT OF PEAK LOAD SUGGESTED. The hold-up in the flax-milling industry is a matter of serious import to the Horowhenua Power Board, as a substantial revenue is received by it for electric power supplied to the mills, and a late start with the season’s milling is likely to be a disadvantage to the peak load. At the meeting of the Board yesterday, a report was received from the Finance Committee stating that it had dealt with the position of the flaxmills that had not yet started the season’s work. It was thought- that, as the quarter was well advanced, should the mills decide to start before the quarter ended, it would be necessary to regulate the load and to arrange for .the stripping to be done at night, until the quarter ended. The secretary was instructed to write to the various millowners, pointing out the position and asking their co-operation with the Boards Engineer in keeping down au unpayable peak-load. The secretary (Mr P. W. Goldsmith) reported that he had written to the various millers, in the Board’s district, as directed. He had pointed out that if it was found impracticable for some of the mills to run, on a night shift, some method might be devised so that a refund might be made to the Board, which had to guard against, a mill paying, say, £3O for a service which cost the Board £BO to get from the Public Works Department. The chairman (Mr G. A. Monk) stated that the secretary had brought the question under his notice and it was decided to call the Finance Committee together. He did not think that , there would be any difficulty with the mil.lers, who realised the Board’s'’ posir tiou. The Board was very anxious not to do anything that would put any durabilities on the millers. It realised that prices in the industry were very low, while wages were comparatively high. It was felt that, if the mills d/d not start till late in the quarter, the'Board would experience a fairly heavy loss. The Committee thought that, under the circumstances, scutching should be done with the day load, and stripping at night. The secretary stated that he had received- a reply from - Messrs Ross, Rough and Co. Their actual date, of opening was rather vague, but, in the event of starting this _ quarter, they would assist the Board in carrying the loss, and would confer with the Engineer if the necessity arose. Mr T. G. Vincent said lie realised the seriousness of the position, not only because it affected the flaxmill loads., but. because in Foxton and Shannon it would mean a curtailment of the Board’s \services to some extent, and it would be more difficult to collect accounts from men who should be in employment but were not and who were still using the light. Anything that could be done to enable the mills to start should be done. v The chairman said it was not going to be as difficult for the. mills to agree to the Board’s request as it would be to pay the high wages that were asked. The renort was adopted.