EFFECT OF THE STRIKE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14275, 10 February 1912, Page 12

EFFECT OF THE STRIKE.

THE LOSS TO FARMERS

(SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") WELLINGTON, February 9. _ Ono strike seems no sooner settlod nowadays than another commences. Work was commenced as usual at seven o'clock at- the Gear works at Petone, but two hours later the "call" came, and three hundred men struck work, put on their coats and marched out of the buildings, leaving the- place in a litter and hundreds of pounds worth of perishable Roods uncared for. Ino heads of the various departments and the clerks had to tako their coats off and come to the rescue. They did a good deal of uncongenial work, and before long managed to get things m order. , . . . A number of men engaged in similar work at the Wellington Meat Export Company's Works tat iSganauranga also wont out on. strike. In all somo four hundred men have ceased work, and fully eight hundred workers will be affected by tho strike. There ""is'.every probability that these two big works will bo closed down until the men listen to reason. Whether or not. tho strike will spread to other meat works cannot be stated, as the strikers and their officials are very reticent and refuse to talk, except about the dismal rainy weather and similar unimportant subjects. The slaughtermen are not on strike,- but 'of courso they also will have to cease operations if the works close down. Iho men who have como out are the-gen-eral labourers, and include the "pullers" (who have to do with taking the wool off the skins), tinsmiths, plumbers, preservers and " gutty boys. " Thero are at present some three or four thousand pelts ready to be treated by another section of "pullers," and if these skins are not treated soon thcro is a liability of their rotting. One of the strikers confided to a "Post" reporter that tho "general labourers," working under the rather uncomfortable and not altogether happy conditions in the iellmongery and preserving departments, are not at all satisfied at receiving their present wage, say 9s or 10s per day, while the "gutty" boys, who after their recent little strike, are now all members of a contracting party, { and earning up to £5 per week. It is stated that, referring to that little trouble, that tho "gutty boys," who, it is said on the best authority, were making something like £4 11s 6d per week of forty-nine., hours, considered that the sub-contractors were making too good a thing out of their labour. One authority put the weekly earnings of these heads of "sub-contracts" down at £10 to £12, and the "boys" struck to show their disapproval of such a thing. The matter was settled by the > "boys" all being made "sub-contrac-tors," and there that matter ended;. i Then came the general dissatisfaction of the "general labourers," which has blossomed into a full-blown strike.

Up to the time of writing the enginedrivers and firemen have not struck, though considerable pressure was brought to bear on them to como out. Should the- enginemen cease work, thousands of carcases and other goods in the two works would simply rot. The principal sufferers will do the farmers who have stock ready for the market.

The Gear Company, it is understood, has a three months' supply of meat on hand, and at the Wellington Works there is also a large' stock available. If tho worst came, and the firemen and engiiiemeu came out. no doubt a number of farmers and their sons ■ would volunteer to keep tho fires alight and the machinery running. Meantime ail stock supplies to the 'works will ho stopped, and the buyers will have a holiday. The men chose a most inoi>portune time from the farmer's Doint of view, for the strike. A large quantity of stock was at Xgahauranga. awaiting slaughter. Arrangements were at once made to send it back to the country, and the forwarding of further supplies was also stopped. The same course was adopted by the Gear Company, which promptly arranged for the retrucking vi stock already at Petone. The men did their best to embarrass the companies by doing two hours' work this morning and then suddenly stopping after r. large quantity of perishable goods and rubbish had accumulated. The strikewas nlso timed for the height of {he busy season. The Gear Company was putting through between GOO 9 nnd TOGO carcases, and the Meat Export Company was also very busy. Most of tho meat for tho city supply is slaughtered at the Corporation Abattoirs, so the city meat supply may not be affected to any appreciable extent.