FLAXMILLING.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20083, 12 November 1930, Page 7

FLAXMILLING.

FOXTON EMPLOYEES SEEK

RESUMPTION OF WORK.

SUSPENSION OF* AWARD

As a result of a meeting of over sixty flax-workers in Foxton recently, convened for the purpose of meeting the millers in friendly discussion with a view to securing an early resumption of work, suspension of the Arbitration Court award is to be sought by the workers, who decided to request the union to apply in that direction. It was stated at the meeting that the men had been out of work for some months and had now come to the end of their resources; flax millers were asked what rate of wages would be acceptable to them in order to get the mills started.

The president of the Flaxmillers' Association (Mr D. B. Ogilvy) outlined the steps which had been taken to get the Government to subsidise the wages being "paid in the industry. They appeared to be no further ahead so far as the subsidy was concerned, although they had been working hard for months in an endeavour to get the men back on their jobs. A large number of men, it was stated, felt that the position would be improved if the Arbitration Court award were suspended, and for that purpose a union meeting would be necessary before steps were taken. Women and children in Foxton were practically starving, said one man, and no more authority than that was necessary before approaching the Prime Minister. He did not think that there was a man in the room who would not go back to work at a reduced wage. It was not a question of what they were prepared to do, but of what they were allowed to do. _ In a general discussion it was decided, to request the union to apply for a suspension of the Arbitration Court award for six months, immediate steps to be taken, in that direction.