THE DYING DAYS OF FLAX.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 423, 4 February 1909, Page 6

THE DYING DAYS OF FLAX.

.;;VEOTALcoMirtS3i6N;ASKEptoe. ■~:' ■J'--The,'Hpn:;' : AV-^ received'yesterday;.afternoon a visit frorn'Mr. ■Peroj'Tjvllobirison.'offPoxton/secretary of the Manawatu/ Haxmills".Employees''"Union. -; Mr. ; Epbinspn .stated that ;in Mew.';of-,-.the present depressed 1 , oondition. of. the 'flax'industry, his union "desired that; a Royal Commission should be-set-up, to. inquire 'into tie true state of "affairs; .{He 'pointed;-out .that,, this;; was, to. be done', in : regard to'; sawniilling, and he urged that; s flaimjlling should receive 'the same : consideration', vMr. vEobinsoif-'attributed the :.present .depression■'in'flaxmilling;largely, to high •royalties, andvsaid that ; flajrmillers.and their .hands 'seemed- to think; that'the : profits" that should be; derived by the'manufacturers were being absorbed., by the "owners of the, flax to the •extent of absol-utely trashing'.the industry.. The "union was quite satisfied-with the-wages stated in the award, and they ihad; opinion': of two. of the. largest -flaimillers, "Messrsi Seifert and John Stansell, that wages were' ■no more than fair.. "- "T ' > ,; ' ..-"■.- :■; ■; The: Minister 'promised: to bring the matter before-tbeGovernment on an.eaTly opportunity '.with-a view to seeing whether'-an inquiry "could be; held or legislation .provided to Bring about an alteration in-"the present state of ~ affairs. 'He admitted :the. importance' of the. in--1 dustry. .and regrettej; that. its ■ present. condiition' had caused so -many menj.to "be...out :"of .employment.,,'lf'any remedy cpulrl be applied it-should be'done'as. promptly, as possible.