FLAXMILL HANDS AS CONTRACTORS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 477, 8 April 1909, Page 5

FLAXMILL HANDS AS CONTRACTORS.

MANAWATU SCHEME. It is reported that Manawatu naxraillcrs intend- to introduco the contract system to practically all; of .their mills. Tho system is already in operation in several of them, with the approval of the employees. The matter was fully discussed by a recent conference of employers with Mr. Pryor, organiser for tho New' Zealand Employers' Federation." Flaxmillers consider that they can work the mills cheaper by contract, the economy, in some cases making all the difference'between tho prospect of navingto close the mills at least temporarily, and the prospect of being able to run on. At the same time, employers state, tho men will in the majority of cases be able to earn as'much as at present, the .difference being that, as they Will bo, paid by results', they "will have an incentive to put more through tho mill. Sofae of the men will be paid per ton of, green leaf, and some, in other departments, et per ton of fibre. • .'■• . The new. departure is\in accordance with clause' 11 of the award, which reads as follows :—Except as regards flax-cutting, firewood • cutting, ■ trimming, tram-laying, padand scutching, no piece work shall be allowed, but employers may have all or any part; of, their work \ done ,by contract, «nd employers! shall -stipulate- that 'contractors who* employ .any workers shall observe the provisions of .this award so far .as the same-shall be applicable to such workers. It will : be observed that this clause forbids piece-work except in the case of certain stipulated .employees, but the employers claim that the proposal they make, although it resembles the' piece-work system, differs from it in that under piece-work an ployee is at liberty to come and go as he.. pleases,, whereas under- the contract system te contracts to do certain work. The clause above quoted stipulates that when a con-r tractor employs men he must pay the award rates, but under the proposed system each employee is. regarded as an individual contractor;: and the price to be paid is;a matter entirely of agreement between the employer end employee. '. .• . • ■ It is understood that the'men consider the employers' acceptable.