THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 29, 27 February 1909, Page 2

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

THROTTLED BY EXCESSIVE ROYALTIES. Uy Telegraph.—Press Association. Wclington, Last Night. A deputation, from the llaxniill workers of the Manawatu placed some interesting information relating to the industry before the Hon. A. W. Hogg (Minister ior Labor) yesterday afternoon- They dwelt with a threat by employers to close down mills unless wages were reduced, retaliating with o declaration that 75 per cent, of the mill | owners, but for the obligations to proprietors of Ilax land, would have publicly backed up their request that an enquiry should be made into the royalties charged for green ilax. The deputation comprised Messrs. G. S. Whibley (president of the Manawatu Flax-work-ers' Industrial Union), P. T. Robinson (secretary), and It. H. Dalhousie. Mr. Robinson said there had been a threat by the employers to close down the ilaxmills unless tho award was revised. The workers' contention was that royalties and not wages were the cause of the trouble. He knew of one estate in which the flax royalties amounted „c 30 per cent, on the cost of the land this being while Ilax was down. Whei 1 it was high the estate was getting i ' return of 100 per cent. Employers win 1 paid rovalties did not want the wage j down. 'Their view was that royallic

should be reduced. ( The Minister: Are all the employers agreed upon that'! Mr. Koliinson: Yes; those who a.e paving royalties, The Minister: Royalties have be-m arcatlv increased? Alr.'fiobh.son: Yes; t'here was a boom in flax two Years ago and royalties went up, but since f)»x had gone down m p ice royalties tad not come down to a similar level. He went on to state that one miller resigned from the Associationhecause it would not rovaltv question. Millers who. owned ilax lands bought at a high price, and ow things, had gone back they wanted to take it out of their workers for fteir mistake. He thought that .boat 50 per cent, of the millers owned their flax land. The onlv Manawatu mills which had stopped were, those with no flax The industry was going on just the same as during boom times. , Mr. Dalhousie assured the Minist-.! that a large number of Foxton millers were a-reed that royalties ami not wage should cmne down, but they were so fettered by their engagements to Hie owners of green (lax that it was more than their mill* were worth to make « ; publte statement. He produced a.detailed return ol the cost of milling taken ; from a, Foxton miller's books The ; labor cost of producing M-nof ™* ' when Hie market price of fibre was £ll ' oer ton worked out at £0 2s 3d. To--1 day's.price of good fair Wellington" .he ' SL ed "W £2l; difference in price r continuou, us, ,„,,,.,. <>c> etc J £lO, difference in cost of labor B 1 9d." He quoted details of wages paid ' under the award, showing that the same paid £8 8s per ton for ° labor, including the manager and cut 1 ting. He said they wanted an enquiry into the whole industry. The Hon. A. W. Hogg informed UK *' deputation that tho figures submit c. ''• appeared to be very valnab e.. He co <i „ot promise, that a comm.ss.on won

1,0 appointed or an enquiry '■'»"l« l «' 1 - but ne would lay the W vole matter be fore Cabinet, wind, would take the W and wisest course. It was a most unfortunate thins that */f"! 1 "a t able as a feeder to the labor market should possibly be at the whim of the owe. of flax land. The. figures submitted bore out the fact Unit since the price oi flax had increased, royal k ■W grae up to a very high rate, it apparently when reductions m the value of flax took place heavy royalty cliaig-.s were still maintained, placing a seveie burden upon those who had invested monov in the mills. A remedy could be ■ applied by legislation, but his hcarcis • knew the difficulty mice private owner, ' got possession of the property oi tut ! Crown. The control of the State tod ' then pretty well passed away. ne : land was the mainstay of labor and . 1 was unfortunate for the State, that i greater care had not been taken to rer serve land containing valuable products, t whether mineral or vegetable, for labor - purposes. Possibly the prominence • which would lie given to the deputa--2 tion's statements would have a good s effect, on people who were levying uun just tribute, which was hurting the f workers. The. aggressors must feel <■ acutely what they were doing.