THE THREATENED STRIKE OF SLAUGHTERMEN.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14562, 13 January 1913, Page 6

THE THREATENED STRIKE OF SLAUGHTERMEN.

The hitch in regard to the cancellation of registration of tho New Zealand Slaughtermen's Union seems to havo been overcomo, and thero seems to be a feeling that a trial of strength on a somewhat extended scale is likely to tako place. The "Farmers' Union Advocate" points out the unfortunate position in which tho farmer is placed in this matter. Thero is no doubt that ultimately ho will havo to pay for any concession given; ho has to bear the greater portion of tho cost of a strike, and yot ho cannot interfere or havo a say in conceding or refusing tho demands made. Our contemporary hopethat the companies in tho coming discussion will bear in mind that tho farmer is gotting tired of this state of things, and is anxious to support them in resisting these demands. It adds that if the. companies will intimate to the unions their intention of standing firm the farmers will see to it that their stock are killed, dressed, and frozen, until such time as the men aro brought to a reasonable state of mind. If a fight has to come, it is better to com© in a favourable season liko the present than in one when feed is scarce.

That tho farmers will ultimately have to bear tho increased cost of sonding tho meat to market goes without say-

ing. All they can hope for is tho not receipts after paying the cost of killing,freezing, freight, and other charges incidental .to getting tho meat to the English consumer. But for tho fact that contracts having some time yet to run have been made with the shipping companies, >it is tolerably certain that with the present great demand for tonnage all over tho world, they would have been faced with an increase in freights as well as with increased labour demands. They aro quite entitled to protect themselves in tho struggle, and if unreasonable demands aro made, no doubt they will do everything in their power to savo themselves from being squeezed. Tho disadvantage in which tho farmer is placed, as pointed out by the "Advocate," however, extends much further. It applies not only to strikes and to farmers, but to all industrial disputes under tho Act, and to the whole consuming class of the community. The great defect in the system is that tho only parties heard before tho Court aro the employers and tho workers, while tho great bddy of consumers, on whom the burden ultimately falls, are unrepresented. This is a defect which wo hop© will bo removed when next our industrial legislation comes under review.