SIGNIFICANT MOVE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 112, 8 November 1930, Page 10

SIGNIFICANT MOVE

I « . I FLAXMILL EMPLOYEES WILL WORK FOR LESS PAY IF UNION AGKEES (By Telegraph.) ■ (Special to "The Evening Post.") . ' PALMEKSTON N., This Day. A happening of unusual significance to the flaxmilling industry, and indeed to industry generally in the Dominion, occurred last evening in Foxton, when a meeting of over 60 unemployed flaxworkcrs <te«ided to request the union to apply for 'a suspension of the Arbitration Court award for six months in order to allow them to accept lower "wages with a view to securing an early resumption' of' work. ■ Representatives of the millers were present, and the Mayor, Mr. M. E. Perreau, presided. Mr. B. W. Shaw, for the men, explained that the meeting had been called with the idea of seeing if some means could be devised whereby the mills could re-open. The men had been . out of work for some months, and had now come to the end of their resources. The position was desperate, and it was impossible for things to go on as at present. He asked the flaxmillers to state what rate of wages would be acceptable to them in order to get the mills started. The president of the Flaxmillers' Association (Mr. D. E. Ogilvy) outlined the steps which had been taken by.the association in an endeavour to get the Government to subsidise the wages being paid in the industry. He pointed Qut that their request to the Government had been fully supported by accurate figures, which disclosed the fact that the subsidy would need to be on the basis of 33 1-3 per cent, of the ■wages paid in accordance with the Arbitration Court award. He had just returned 'from Wellington, and, although they had been working hard for months in their endeavours to get the men back to their jobs, they appeared to be no further ahead as far as a subsidy was concerned. The market prices were still a long way below production costs, and even with a reduction of 33 1-3 per cent, in wages the millers would be faced with a loss. WILL THE EXECUTIVE ACT? Mr. Shaw said that before the award could be suspended it would be necessary for the union to hold a meeting, pass a resolution to that effect, and to recommend the executive to take the necessary steps accordingly. He did not think, however, that the executive would carry out the wishes of the men, even if the resolution were carried. The Chairman: "There appears to be a deadlock between the men and the executive.'' Mr. Shaw outlined the steps taken to approach the Prime Minister in the matter, and said they expected a further reply at any time. Mr. Johnston, another worker, asked Mr. Shaw what authority he had to wire to the Prime Minister. Did he get permission froin the union? Mr. Shaw: "Union be damned!" All the authority that was needed was the fact that the women and children in Foxton were practically starving. In reply to the chairman, Mr. Shaw said he did not think ther.e was a man in the room who would object to going tack to work at reduced wages. It vras not a question, however, of what they were prepared to do; it was what they were allowed to do. A general discussion followed, and it was suggested by the men that a deputation of workers wait on the Govern-ment-and endeavour to get the wages ■which the millers could afford to pay subsidised to 14s. THE TINEMPLOYMENT BOARD. It was pointed out, however, that there seemed to be no hope of getting any further in that direction until the ■Unemployment Board was set up, and then it would be some timo before anything could be done. At this stage the employees requested the millers to leave the room in order that they might more freely discuss the question. The millers were later asked to return, when the men announced that they had decided to request the union to apply for a suspension of the Arbitration .Court award for six months. The question of increasing the wages again, should the market improve, was then discussed, and the millers stated they would be quite prepared to meet delegates of the workers once a month, when they would place all their cards on the table and frankly discuss the question of wages, etc. The workers then appointed a cominittee consisting of Messrs. Shaw, El\ybod, and Carter to draft a letter to tie union officials, asking that immediate steps be taken to have the award ifuspended.