BACK AT WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 259, 1 November 1929, Page 8

BACK AT WORK.

ABATTOIR WORKERS.

CONFERENCE ARRANGED

DELEGATES GET TOGETHER

POINTS IN THE NEW AWARD.

The Conciliation Commissioner, Mr. P. Hally. was able to send a, telegram to the Minister of Labour, the Hon. W. A. Ycitcli, shortly lie fore noon to-day stating that the 100 slaughtermen who went on strike on Wednesday hart promised to return at 2 o'clock to-day to their work at the city abattoir and the works of R. and W. Hcllaby, Ltd., at WesUield, on the understanding that a conference would be held at the J own Hall during the afternoon for the consideration of points raised bv the men in connection with the award. -

Xo time was lost by the commissioner after his return from Wellington in taking the initial steps with a view to setting in motion the forces ot conciliation. ' Bv arrangement he met the Mavor, Mr. George Baildon, at nine o'clock' and later the representatives of Hellaby's, Limited. The oiler to meet the representatives of the men in conference provided work was resumed was confirmed by the Mayor, who said that if the men agreed to return to work at one o'clock lie would arrange a conference; for 2.30. Mr. Hally then went I o'Westfield and found the men assembled near the abattoir for a meeting which I liev had arranged for the discussion of their own business. Mr. W. Sill, secretary ot the union, was present. The commissioner informed flic men of the conferences lie had had in the city and of the assurance the Mayor had given. Tie advised them to resume work in order that, the suggested conference might proceed.

After listening to the commissioner the inc*n agreed unanimously !»v a show of hands to return to work at two o'clock. They said they could not return by ouo o'clock, as they had first to go to their homes for lunch and to change into their working clothes. "The Conciliation Commissioner has informed me that the men have decided to resume work at 2 o'clock," the Mayor said to a representative of the ''Auckland Star." "The offer I made was that if they returned at 1 o'clock I would undertake to arrange a conference for 2.30. However, not-withstanding the short interval between 2 and 2.30, I will bring -about the conference provided the manager at the abattoir assures me that the ineii have started work."

Arrangements were accordingly made for a conference at tli-e Town Hall to be attend by Mr. Sill as secretary of the union and four representatives of the men, also by the Mayor, the representative of Ileilaby's, Ltd., Mr. Fred Hcllaby, the chairman of the stores and markets committee, Mr. M. J. Bennett; that town clerk, Mr. ,T. S. Brigham, and the manager of the abattoir, Mr. E. W. Kugg. At the request of the Mayor the 0 Conciliation Commissioner agreed to open the conference. The conference did not commence until three o'clock, as the Mayor had instructed the manager of the city abattoir, to leave for the city only when the men had resumed work.

At two o'clock a big proportion of the 70 men employed at the abattoir had arrived and they informed the management that they expected all would be at work by 2.30. Mr. Rugg told a pressman that he recognised the necessity of allowing men who resided at Papatoetoe and other distant places a reasonable amount of time to get back to the job. By 2.30 Mr. Rugg was able to report that all of the men were at work, and a similar report was obtained from Hellabys' works at Westticld, where about 30 men are employed.

Tlic manager of the abattoir then proceeded to the city, and the conference was commenced.