FREEZING STRIKE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 150, 7 April 1930, Page 5

FREEZING STRIKE

VOLUNTEER SLAUGHTERMEN. TROUBLE EXPECTED TO SPREAD. (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Ajril 5. When the whistle blew at the South Otago Freezing Company’s works at Finegand this morning a full board of thirty-one volunteer slaughtermen commenced work. In spite of the late start yesterday 600 sheep were dealt with, and the management expressed its entire satisfaction with the work. Among the volunteer slaughtermen are a number of skilled butchers, while other freezing companies are indicating their support ot the South Otago Company’s action by sending skilled butchers as instructors.

No trouble Avas given by the strikers yesterday, though they patrolled the roads leading to the works and endeavoured to hold up lorries cpnveying sheep to the works. The first lorry, however, drove right through the men, scattering them in all directions, and no subsequent attempts Avere made. Early in the day the iocal police were Enforced by a car load from Dunedin, and their presence had a quietening effect. The strikers mixed freely in the town last night and there was no trouble. At the stock sale in the afternoon the farmers were addressed by Messrs Geo. Smith and J. Rodgers (chairman and secretary respectively of the local branch of the Slaughtermen’s Union) and by Comrade Hunt, the slaughterman Avhose engagement is demanded bv the Union, and his case Avas stated, but it met with a cold reception. It is understood that the company’s action has been influenced by the unsatisfactory manner in which the slaughtermen have been working. For some time stopvYork meetings were being held frequently for paltry pretexts and Avithout reasonable notice to the management, thus greatly inconveniencing the company in the quantity of stock that could be accepted from day to day, and in ipreventing the definite booking of stock for any length of time ahead. Though a number of labourers who struck Avith the slaughtermen reapplied for work this morning the management chose only* those it Avanted, and indicated that henceforth it reserved the right to employ whom* soever it pleased. The strikers have been gi\-en notice to quit the company’s tenements which they have been occupying, and most have now left.

There are indications that the trouble may spread to other Avorks in the South Island. Slaughtermen are said to be going slow at Burnside and at Mataura, and the management at these places intends taking a similar stand as South Otago on Monday. .

POSITION IN CANTERBURY. NO STOPPAGE LIKELY. / (Special to the “Guardian.”* CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. “There is no likelihood of the strike spreading to Canterbury, as the men, in my opinion, are too sensible,” said the manager of a big Freezing Company in Christchurch. “There is always the possibility, of course,” he said, “but I do not think that the men here Al l’ll folloAv the lead of the South Otago men. All the freezing companies will support the Balclutha companv.”