FLAX-MILLERS' TROUBLES.

NZ Truth, Issue 148, 18 April 1908, Page 6

FLAX-MILLERS' TROUBLES.

. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— Will you kindly allow me space 'iv your columns to correct a statement appearing m your issue ' of the 4th instant m reference to the , flax industry ? You state what happened at >Seifert's mill at Shannon. Three strippers keepers were sacked,, and kicked of! the premises and three non-unionists kept employed. Now. this statement is as far from the truth as the rest 'of the article published. In the first place six strippers were working at the mill m question, three have since ceased work. Now there were four stripper keepers employed here, and two feeders. The men put off from those machines (one stripper keeper and two feeders) were found employment by the firm m other capacities, and at time of writing are still m their employ. Now m face of this they could not be kicked off the premises as you state. You are also labouring under a mistake as there is no clause giving preference to unionists m the Flaxmillers Award. In reference to the way you treat Mr Seifert, that, too, is as misleading as the rest of your article is to your readers. Anyone who has any dealing with. Mr Seifert, either m public or private life, have always found him an upright and a honourable man, m all his undertakings. He has always been a strong advocate for the bet-, terment of all employees engaged m this industry. In conclusion I might state every man employed here, and m fact m the whole of the Manawatu district, respect Mr Seifert f or ■. his •worth as a man, who has started from the bottom ' of the ladder and got to the top by his industry and hard work; and not by sweating and cheap Jabour, as your informant would have us believe. Hoping you will give this contradiction to public through your paper. — I am. etc., H. RIDLER.' Shannon, April 11, 1908.