ROSLYN -MILL STRIKE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7848, 10 July 1911, Page 8

ROSLYN -MILL STRIKE

FINDING OF THE ARBITRATORS. PEE3S ASSOCIATION. DUNEDIN, July 9. The two arbitrators, tho Mayor and tho Hon. J. T. Raul, who were appointed to settle tho dispute which resulted in the strike at Roslyn woollen mills, sat from 10 o’clock on Saturday morning until 10 o’clock that night, and alter an exhaustive inquiry have announced their finding as follows; — •■Having been asked to arbitrate on the causes which induced a number of girls to leave their employment at the Rosiyn woollen mills, we tied as follows; In tho first place the arbitrators have been made aware of suggestions of immorality against several persons. No direct charges have been made against any person or persons, but the arbitrators have made most careful inquiries into tho matter. There have certainly been indiscretions committed which in a measure have given rise to some of the suspicions, but we are emphatic in stating that wo find no evidence of pergonal misconduct on the' part of any person employed at the mills. The causes leading up to a large number of girls leaving tho mills arc chiefly (1) personal objection to certain workers; and (2) sincere belief in tho existence of favouritism. Tho first cause is shown to have been based on a chain of circumstantial evidence which has appeared to tho majority of the workers to .bo tho correct conclusion from such evidence. The second cause was based on facts, and doubtless any suggestions of favouritism will be eliminated in future. We are of opinion, therefore, that in view of theso circumstances, and from the point of view of the disaffected workers, there was justification for the attitude assumed by them. Taking all the surroundings into consideration, wo recommend that for the purpose of restoring harmony in tho mills some new position should bo found for tho workers to whom personal objection has been taken, as it is_ unfair that any worker should be denied employment unless some specific fault has Keen proved against himself or herself.” The decision was communicated to tho large majority of tho strikers shortly after 10 p.m., and it was favourably received. They will meet again on Monday morning, when the finding of tho arbitrators and tho decision of the manr.goment in regard thereto will be jointly and finally considered.