TELEGRAPHIC.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10563, 20 February 1912, Page 6

TELEGRAPHIC.

THE FLAX INDUSTRY. | STRIKE PROBABLE. | MASS MEETING TO BE HELD. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) PAIjMERSTON N., Last Night. Serious trouble is threatened in the fjax industry and a strike ■ appears eminent, over the question-of a uniform minimum r-ato of pay to swamp bands. A conference- was held on. Satuidaj •between the Flaxmill Employees Union and the Flaxmillers' Association, but it >broko up without any agreement being arrived at. Subsequently 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, 22nd inst., to deal with the 'highly iinsatisfactory reply from the Flaxmillers' Association; that -the Tneeting be held at 11 a.m., and that a definite decision as to the course of action to be taken be arrived .at. Jt is not known yet, just- what will happen. The time fixed for the meeting on Thursday, however, means that'every mill in the province will be -stepped if or the day.

MIXERS' UNION. AGREEMENTS MUST BE UPHELD. (By Telegraph—Fress Association.) REEFTON, Last Night, A special meeting of the Inangahua Miners' Union discussed a report re Mr P. H. Rickey's statement that it was unnecessary for workers to keep their .agreements with the masters. The meeting unanii'nously censured Mr' Hickev, if the report were true, and approved of tho principle that no matter .what occurred tthe Inangahau Miners' Union would hold fast- to its agreements. ■

HOTEL FIRE. MAN BURNT TO DEATH. OTHERS HAYE"NARROW ESCAPE (By Telegraph—Tress Association.) THAMES, Last Night. The Royal Mail private -hotel, owned -and occupied by Geo. Crosby, was completely destroyed by fire at Paeioa. Several boarders had a -narrow escape in their night attire. The tire is believed to have commenced 1 in the room of "iSc-ottv" Preston, an engineer, aged 21, who was burned to death after attempts had Ibecn made to reach his room. The insurance on the building was £BOO, and on the furniture £(550. Crosby is a heavy loser.