USUAL KILLING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 155, 12 April 1930, Page 8

USUAL KILLING

BUTCHERS AT FREEZERS. 4> ALL CANTERBURY WORKS. after STOP-WORK MEETINGS. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. After one or two stop-work meetings this morning, the usual rate of killing was at all i\orth Canterbury freezing works.. PAREORA AND SMITHFIELD. COMPANY’S FIRM STAND. TIMARU, This Day. At Pareora this morning the men continued the “go-slow” tactics. A notice was posted by the company to the effect that unless the men resumed normal killing by 10 o clock, and continued to work on these lines, the cheques of the employees would be available at noon and the company would put into operation other arrangements to cope with stock coming forward. ■ , ~ The men immediately held a meeting and at 10.15 informed the company that normal killing would be resumed. At 10.15 work was resumed under such conditions, and continued till noon. p . Normal killing was resumed at Smithfield at 10.40. THE BURNSIDE MEN. TWO MEETINGS THIS MORNING. ) DUNEDIN, This Day. The tactics at the Burnside Freezing Works to-day were a repetition ot those adopted yesterday. W hen the starting whistle sounded the men adjourned for a stop-work meeting, which lasted till 9.15. Immediately aftei “smoko” they held a 45 minutes meeting, and then resumed' killing at the normal rate. the conditions yesterday.

(Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. “Go-slow” tactics continued at local freezing works yesterday. At the works of Thomas Borthwic and Sons, and of the Canterbury Frozen Meat Co. at Belfast the rate of slaughtering was reduced to foui a hour. The same conditions obtained at the North Canterbury works, near which was not affected on Thursday, work went on yesterday morning as usual till' 11 o clock, when work was suspended till the afternoon in order to let the men meet. The dispute is entirely unofficial, according to Mr H. C. Revell (secretary of the New Zealand Freezing Moiks Federation), who was approached yesterday morning, “Any action taken by the men is without the authority of the Canterbury Union or the New Zealand Federation,” said Mr Revell. It was denied that the executive ot the Union met yesterday morning. Early in the day, however, several ot the officials of the Union gathered in the secretary’s office. The trouble comes at a particularly unfortunate time, as all the works are heavily stocked or bought up. Every company has been killing at. full pleasure for some time, and farmers lately have been anxious to get rid ot then stock on account of the lateness ot the season, and the shortage of feed brought about by the dry weather ot the past few weeks. The rate of killing at four an hour is a reduction of eight sheep an hour, full work being reckoned as 12 an k°With the heavy pressure of work and the number of sheep bought or coming forward, there is bound to be a big loss to farmers if the trouble continues. The works, with their limited accommodation, are not able to hold stock without the animals going back badly in quality, and, consequently, in price. After six weeks of full pressure work at practically all the works in the South Island, the stoppage, if it continues, will come as a severe blow to fanners, who have already had a very bad season.

SOUTH CANTERBURY WORKS. ■ —— NO DEVELOPMENTS YESTERDAY. TIMARU, This Day. There were no developments in South Canterbury yesterday in regard to the freezing works trouble. • Work was not commenced at Pareora until about 11.30, the men having been discussing the position up till that houp. When killing was resumed the “go-slow” rate was observed, and the position was the same throughout the afternoon. , , At the Smithfield works a start was not made until 9 o’clock, sheep being killed at the rate of four an hour until noon. At 1 o’clock a meeting u-as held, and this lasted until approximately 2.45, when work was once more commenced, again at the g slow” rate. „ , „ „ The local manager of the JNew Zealand Refrigerating Co., and the Canterbury Frozen Meat Co. were approached yesterday afternoon, but Had no statement to make regarding the poIt was learned on good authority yesterday that the South Otago Freezing Company, at whose works the trouble commenced, have no intention oi disposing of the free labour engaged. It was stated that it was the intention of the company to continue to employ free labour, and that they will not dispose of their services for any reason connected with any possible reengagement of the men wlio had left work. .. The nosition at the works was discussed bv the South Canterbury Executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday, when the following motion was carried: “That this body supports the Freezing Companies in any action they might take in keeping the works open.” The chairman (Mr J. Bitcliener, M P.) said the action of the employees could not' have been taken at a worse time as far as farmers were concerned. In view of the dryness of the season

and the general shortage of feed, the farmers would be heavy, .losers without having to suffer hardships in getting their stocks killed. The committee of the Timaru A. and P. Association also briefly discussed the present trouble yesterday, hut the oiscussion was taken in committee. The meeting passed the following resolution: “That this Association is prepared to stand behind the companies in any action they think fit to combat the trouble.”