“NO CUT ASKED.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17217, 7 December 1923, Page 8

“NO CUT ASKED.”

THRESHING MILL WAGES. CONFERENCE WITH OWNERS A\ ages and conditions were discussed at a conference held to-day in Christ church between representatives of the threshing mill owners and the workers. Mr AY. H. Haggcr, Conciliation Commissioner. presided, and the assessors ■were: Mill Owners’ Association, Messrs G. Sheat. R. Alacartney. R, Dalziell and H. K. Perryman : Threshing AliU Workers' Union. Messrs C E Baldwin. A. Stewart and D. Joy. Air Baldwin said that lie believed and he hoped they could come to an agreement without difficulty. If they did not. it would be a reflection on their intelligence. Afr Sheat said that the Mill Owners Association would like to have gone to the Court and asked for a drastic cut in wages, but, in view of a recent an nouncement that the cost of living was inclined to soar rather than to recede, they thought that such a move would be futile at present. They, therefore, suggested that the present scale of wages should remain in existence for another year. What the future of the grain-growing industry held Was more than any mill owner aneg more than anv farmer-could tell. There was less wheat in the ground in New Zealand this year by 95.000 acres, or one-third. What was in the ground was in a bad state owing to the drought, and lie wassorry to predict that it was likely there would be a shortage in the people’s food supply. If the other side did not ask for drastic alterations and higher wages, they would soon come to an agreement. The owners’ assessors were in the same position as Henry Ford, who. when he was selling a man a car, said, “"You can have it any colodr you but it must be black.’’ The owners could give the workers’ assessors as much as they wanted, as long as they did not ask for any more.

Air Baldwin : Give us as much as we want, and we won’t ask for any more. Mr Sheat said that the old award would have to be the basis of discus-

After some remarks by Air Alacartney deprecating any splitting of straws. Mr Baldwin said that the work ers’ representatives were present in ,i conciliatory mood. The best way to make progress would be to discuss the old award clause by clause. The old hours of work clause was adopted without discussion. Difference of opinion was expressed regarding the number of hands employed, the workers asking that an extra man should bccarried by each mill for times of emergency, as in South Canterbury. This clause was held over.

Regarding wages. Mr Baldwin asked tliat the hourly wage should be fixed at a flat rate of 2s ljd an hour instead of ls/6d plus a bonus* of 7id. He said that the bonus appeared to most of the men to he something like a gratuity, instead of which it was a right. Air Sheat said that the owners could not agree. He saw Air Baldwin's point, but could not advise his association, to agree to an increase in the flat rate. Already the farmers said that the millowners were rpbbing them. Air Baldwin : You don’t take them seriouslv. surely. The Commissioner said that if a flat rate of 2s lid were agreed to. reductions could still be made by order of the Court. “ PLAIN COLONIAL ENGLISH.”

Air Sheat : The mill-owners are the victims of circumstance. New Zealand farmers have to compete with the world’s markets, ami if they don't grow wheat we go to the I wail. Air Baldwin’s claim for a basic wage, of > 2s lid is all points. If we agree, we are imperilling the future of the industry for all time. That is plain colonial English. To safeguard the industry, we want to get the wages of the work ers back to Is 6d an Hour aSy soon as possible, so that the producers can compete with the world's market. Either that, or the wheat farmers go out of business; and. it they de, the workers will want a job. and there will have to soup kitchens. Air Baldwin: You predicted soup kit cl.ens years ago. I’hev are not hero yet. Air Sheat: Canterbury farmers head the list of bankruptcies, ami there will be more yet.

Air Baldwin : Those jieople are not farmers; they are speculators. There is no chance of wages being reduced. They are more likely to be increased, according to latest statistics. Air Sheat: If we don’t fight you in the Court, the -Farmers’ Union will. The men are getting the full 2s lid now. Is not- that enough ? Air Baldwin : Make- it wages straight out. f Air Sheat : We won't. That is straight. (Proceeding.)