TIMBER INDUSTRY

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 March 1933, Page 2

TIMBER INDUSTRY

WILL THE MEN STRIKE? Although the President and secretary of the Westland Timber Workers Union are busily engaged in the work of addressing unionists, at the various timber mills on the West Coast, with the object of impressing upon the workers the need’ to take action against the employers, because the lattei- will not agree to a minimum wage for “rouseabouts’ ’of 12/S pe? day, there is a doubt if the men will decide for a strike. The question is asked, what have the men to strike about? Their wages have not yet been reduced, and even should the millers lower the wages to the amounts agreed to by both parties, the men will have no cause to complain. The men are not complaining, but their representatives are. It has been made to appear that the millers are asking timber workers to work for 11/6 per day. That is not so. The lowest rate of pay agreed to between the parties, for any specified and acknowledged work in the industry, is 13/- per day. This dispute, which threatens the already unprofitable industry, is being prolonged by the Union representatives because they want the employers to pay a rouseabout 12/8 per day. It cannot bo denied that the sawmillers on the West Coast have always paid above the minimum wage. The reason for this, perhaps, is the fact that there are so few good bushmen about, that when the industry commences to take on a “run,” the employers compete with each other for the best men, to the pecuniary advantage of the worker. A timber-workers’ strike will not place any hardship on the miller. Some of the employers will be pleased to close down for a time, because they are now running at a loss. From a district point of view, it is desired that the mills will remain open, but that rests with the men, at the present juncture. As one miller stated, it is better to allow the trees to grow a little longer, than have the timber stacked in the yard 1 , when there is no sale for it. Just now, the only Company affected is the United Sawmills Ltd., at To Kinga. The three mills did not work to-day, the men having decided to hold a full meeting this morning. Messrs. B. Topp and F. L. Turley, who visited the United Mills on Thursday, and secured a unanimous vote from a minority attendance of the workers, went to Te Kinga again to-day, to be in attendance at the meeting.

«■ The public should know that the relations between the millers and the men, are cordial. It is not a threatened strike against wages, for with the exception of the minimum wage, all other rates of pay are acceptable to the men. Whether they will decide to close their avenue of employment, knowing full well the parlous state of the industry, and having always been treated fairly by the millers, in years gone by, has yet to be announced.

“The men employed at the United Mills (Te Kinga), are having a meeting this morning, to discuss matters, and consider whether they will go to work on Monday,” stated Mr. F. Ryder, manager of the mills, when speaking to the “Star” to-day. On Thursday, he added, there were only thirteen or fourteen of the total of about 45 men working at the mills, present, at the meeting addressed by Union representatives. There were also nine or ten men present, who were not employed at the mills, and were really not entitled to be present. The bushmen were not there. At this morning’s meeting all the men would be present as the mill was not working to-day.

Mr. Ryder further stated’ that the present position, a threatened strike, was not one in which the employees were directed against the employers individually. It was not similar to the position which appertained at other strikes, for the best of feelingexisted between the employers and the employees. It really amounted to a question of whether the men would seal their own fate, for no hardship w’ould be placed on the mills if they had to close down. In the cade of the Te Kinga mills, they cut ninety-five per cent, red pine. The United mills have been working fairly regular time, and’ last season supplied a third of the red pine that was railed to the East coast. Relations between the employers and the men at Te Kinga are cordial, and it is stated that the last thing the men anticipated was strike action. There is nothing bitter in the dispute, for it is recognised that all mills on the Coast pay more than the minimum rate of wages. The men have been quite satisfied with their position. Just what will happen, as a result of Union action, yet remains to be seen, but certainly if a strike does eventuate, the owners will take some action. There is not much possibility of the employers at Te Kinga. calling in non-unionists. The United Mills, should the men decide not. to return to work on Monday, will be closed indefinitely. “We have three mills idle now, and another one or two idle will not hurt us, with the industry as it is at present,” said Mr. Ryder.

WAGES AGREED UPON. The minimum rates of pay on which the millers, and the Union have already reached an agreement are here given, with a comparison with the rates of pay existing at the Southland mills:-— Coast Southland

MEETINGS HELD YESTERDAY. Meetings were addressed at the Inangahua Landing and Waipuna mills, yesterday, by the President (Mr B. Topp) and Secretary (Mr F. L. Turley o£ the Union. Mr. Turley stated, to-day, that practically every man at the mills was present. The men at both meetings, he said, were exceptionally keen with regard to what the union was doing, and what further action was contemplated. “There was not one dissentient amongst the men,’’ said Mi’ Turley, “in connection with the action that, has been taken by Hie union up-to-date, or the proposed action the union intends to take very shortly.” Mr Turley stated that not one!

man offered for work at Te Kinga this morning. Messrs Topp and Turley will address a meeting at. Paroa. on Monday eveirng at. 0.45, when all of the men of the Gladstone, Marsden. Rutherglen and South Beach mills are asked to be present. A meeting of unionists will also be held in the Kumara Hall at $.13 o’clock on Monday night. IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. Values of New Zealand imports and exports of timber for January were as follow: From Australia (hardwood), £4988; Canada, £1600; United States, £759; Japan (oak), £1105; India, £163; Sweden (butter boxes’), £456; United Kingdom, £B. Exports were mainly to Australia, which received: Kauri, £527; white pine, £17,674; beech, £407; rimu. £1301; others, £81; a total of £19,990; Pacific Islands took timber to the value of £1315, including packing-case timber valued at £lOB3.

Sawyer (3 saws') 16/8 15/Sawyer (1 saw) 15/6 14/4 Sawyer (no saws) .15/12/8 Engineers ir>/12/10 Machinist 13/Tractor drivers .. 14/12/8 Wag gon-drivers (horse) 13/* .12/8 Lorry drivers 1 4/12/8 L e a ding Yardman 13/4Leading Bushman 14/13/6 Trolly man 13/12/6 Tailer-ou L Id/11/6