THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 9163, Issue 9163, 12 March 1910, Page 5

THE FLAX INDUSTRY.

AN ABORTIVE CONFERENCE.

A conference, as suggested by the Arbitration Court, has been held between representatives of the Flaxmillers' Association and the Union to attempt to arrive at a sliding scale of wages for the industry. It sat on Thursday evenirig and all day yesterday, but proved abortive, and the Arbitration Court will now have to make an award. The conference included Messrs Scott (in the chair) and McCullough of the Arbitration Court, Messrs R. T. Bell (president), L. Seifert, J. Liggms, and E. L. Broad, of the Flaxmillers' Association ; Mr Pryor, secretary Employers' Association; Messrs Dalhousie, Robinson, Whibley, and Mclvor representing the Flaxmill Employees' Union. All the points in dispute were agreed to with the exception of the addition of a piece-work clause to the existing award. The rate of scutching was agreed to be 26s per ton. There was no actual reduction in the wages of the rank and file, the preference clause was also agreed to; no unconditional preference clause was asked for; and this point was made specially clear to Mr Scott at the opening of the proceedings on Fri-' day. The sole points in dispute at the termination of the proceedings was the piece-work clause. It was claimcd that this clause was inserted not to cut down wages, but as a matter of convenience for working certain branches of the trade. The Union agreed to its insertion providing the rates were fixed by mutual agreement between the Union and the Employers' Association, or, failing this, that a sub-clause be added providing that in no case shall less than award rates be paid to piece-workers. The above information was supplied by Messrs Dalhousie and Whibley, m I consequence of an incorrect report appearing in another journal.