WORK AND WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 199, 20 February 1912, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

TROUBLE WITH FLAX WORKERS;*,! ■ *j Teiefmph-Pr«» Awktm. *fy Palmereton N., Monday. -,:•'>.% Serious trouble is threatened in theVf; flax industry, and a strike appears minent over the question of a uniforfji'-V* minimum rate of pay to swamp hands; :™ A conference was held on Saturday J>e : ',"y| tween representatives of the Flax Mili/vi Employees' Union and the FlaxmilleraV*'! Association, but broke up without agreement being arrived at. Subsequent- ,'j ly the delegates of the employees held /*;■ a conference to discuss the question, and '<' the following resolution was passed: : - "That a mass meeting of the union be," < held in the Municipal Hall on Thursday, ' t February 22, to deal with the highly'-,' unsatisfactory reply from the Flax- - ' millers' Association; that the meeting.be ~'" held at ,11 a.m., and that a definite de- • i ciflion as to the course of action bear-'- '„ rived at." ' . ■■ It is not known yet just what will' happen. The time fixed for the meet-' on Thursday, however, means that every ,>. ? mill in the province will be stopped for", the day. n -.'

LOADING MEAT PROCEBBBIG,.

Wellington, In connection with the meat; men£s'' strike, the wharf laborers on Saturday',',.-' refused to comply with the edict by the Federation of Labor that 1 the men-,*'"} were not to handle the produeWflf Gear Meat Co. or the Meayj&pfcrt 06. '* f A consignment was put on-&[rd JipkV-' Drayton Grange in the A man approached the gang woMM&jBtA; the meat, and, aft«r making use of filthy terms, struck one of the workers, ' knocking him down. The assailant then -\ decamped. "

AUCKLAND DISPUTE.

Auckland, Monday.' In connection with the general laborers' Parr hae challenged the Mayor to justify his action at a public' meeting of citizens called for Thursday night. No other reply has been received from the Federation of Labor. MEAT WORKERS' STRIKE. A f ■■• CONFERENCE OF MEN AND MASTERS. Wellington, Last Night. A conference between the representatives of the employers and the strikers at Petone and at the Ngahauranga, Freezing Works was held to-day, lasting from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Good progress was made in the earlier stages, but eventually a deadlock was reached on the question of overtime, and it is very doubtful if it will be possible to get over thus. A meeting of the men will be held in the morning to consider the progress report of their representatives, who are again to meet the employers to-mor-row evening.