SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 28, 1 February 1913, Page 5

SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE.

EMPLOYERS' TERMS,

NO FURTHER CONCESSIONS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON". Friday.

The freezing companies of New Zealand have again definitely refused to | accede to the demands made upon them | by the slaughtermen. The companies re- I offer the terms originally <put forward | by them, but now submit them for acceptance by any men in or out of the | union ranks. These are tne main dcci- I sions arrived at by a conference of re- I preventatives of the freezing companies, , which was held in Wellington to-day. j Sir George Clifford presided, and on be- i half of the conference communicated its decisions at the conclusion of the deliberations. " The freezing companies." he said, " having given full consideration to the demands of the slaughtermen, as put forward by the Wellington executive, are unable to see any reason for altering their previous determination. By it a considerable advance of 2/6 per 100 was offered to the slaughtermen, with certain minor concessions, which chiefly affected the South Island factories. The terms of employment then offered are adhered to, and are now submitted for acceptance to anyone, whether a member of the recently cancelled unions or not, and on ! the basis that the conditions of the last awards are otherwise retained. In practice it means a weekly increment of not j less than 11/0. Such a rise has never hitherto occurred in any other trade, nor would their recent proposals have emenatcd from the companies except that they desired, at any reasonable sacrifice, to safeguard the complicated interests of a national industry." MEN KNOCK OFF. HASTINGS, Friday. The notice given by the slaughtermen at Tomoana and Pakipaki freezing works of their intention to cease work unless their demands were acceded to, expired to-day. About 3,300 sheep were killed at the Tomoana works, leaving the yards empty when the men finished killing just on the stroke of three o'clock this afternoon. No demonstration of any kind was made, and after gathering up their knives and sharpening stones they walked off the premises quietly, as if nothing had happened. GISBORNE. Friday. Slaughtering operations upon the c.-ld agreement were discontinued at the three local works to-day. WANGANUI. Friday. The slaughtermen employed by the local meat freezing company, whose agreement expired to-day. having finished the stock on hand, ceased work at midday, and, gathering up their belongings, quietly left the works. IN SYMPATHY WITH BUTCHERS. GISBORNE. this day. At a meeting of the Freezers' last night it was decided not to go on strike in sympathy with the butchers. ARRIVAL OF AUSTRALIANS. CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. Within the last few days about sixty slaughtermen arrived in "the Dominion from Victoria, with the idea of securing employment in New Zealand. It is explained that the arrival of these men is not connected in any way with the dispute which has arisen between the companies and the slaughtermen, and the Australians never for a. moment entertained the idea of taking the places of the men who have ceased work on account of a difference of opinion with the companies regarding killing rates. For many years it has been the custom of a large number of slaughtermen to go to Australia at the conclusion of the killing season in NewZealand, returning early in the year, when work in the Dominion is in full swing. The new arrivals state that they were fully aware of the position before they left the Commonwealth, but they quite expected to find that an amicable settlement had been reached before their arrival. They are without exception in thorough sympathy wiith the local men, and express the opinion that the work done by the killers is well worth the money which is now asked.