Flaxmillers’ Wages

Te Puke Times, 6 January 1931, Page 2

Flaxmillers’ Wages

Reduction of 334 Per Gent REVIEW AFTER SIX MONTHS ‘Jjn 1900, Mr Justice Martin, then Judge of this Court, stated that if an industry could not pay standard rates of wages, it should go out of existence. He was speaking at the time of a manufacturing industry, in no way related to the primary products of the country. Essential primary industries, however, cannot be dealt with in this manner, and the flax-growing and milling industry, if not an essential industry is of sufficient importance to be given an opportunity, at all events for a limited time, of maintaining its existence.” Mr Justice Frazer, President of the Arbitration Court, makes this remark in the course of an important judgment, filed in Wellington under whioh* from January 1, 1931, a reduction of per cent on all wages and piece work rates prescribed in the Wellington Industrial District Flaxmills’ Employees’ Award, 1927, has been author* ised. . The order was made* in consequence of an application by the Manawatu flaxmill owners for a reduction of per cerit in the wage rates fixed by the award. The mill owners brought evidence to show that in view of the low prices ruling for fibre, flaxmilling could not be carried on at the present wage rates, or even at the reduced rates asked for, except at a loss. The mills have been idle for some time, and the owners were desirousl of resuming production, even though production must for a time be carried on at a loss, and the application was made with that end in view.

Nature does not often throw out gold for picking up by passersby, but such an occurrence is reported by a fish trawler’s orew that visited the Nuggets last week, Fine gold glittered on the scales and skins of the fish that came up in the net, and after their dying flappings some of the dust was swept up from the deck, enough to enclose and take to Dunedin for the convincing of sceptical. Tt is oonjectured-ruo other Cause being assignable—that the gold oaine out of the Molyneux Biver with fine sand that was stirred by the net, Woods’ Great Peppermint pure For Ipfiuansft Ctolde*