THE POSITION IN POVERTY BAY.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14583, 6 February 1913, Page 8

THE POSITION IN POVERTY BAY.

WORK PROCEEDING SATISFAC-

TORILY

(SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.")

GISBORNE, February 5. Slaughtering operations under free labour ivero continued satisfactorily to-day at the Kaiti and Tokomaru works. There ivere twenty-three men on tho Gisborne Sheep-farmers' Frozen Meat Company's boards when work resumed this morning. At ono o'clock tho number had "been increased to twenty-seven. Tho company intend taking on new men as they come along until the board, is made up to forty. Questioned as to the position, Mr C. A. Do Lautour, chairman ,of directors, stated that the work Avas very satisfactory, and quite up to the average of tho experts. Thero was nothing whatever to complain of on the cooling floor yesterday. "We aro quito satisfied whether the slaughtermen remain or not, wo shall get through tho season with satisfaction to our customers," added Mr Do Lautour. "While it ivill bo a matter for regret if it has to he dono without the assistance of past servants who hni-e dono this work well, still that is not going to prevent us fulfil'ing our contracts with our clients. Tho interi\il that mnst expire before a full board is efficient will cause some delay, but I do not anticipate that will be inconvenient, taking into account the advanced, stage of the season and the feed that is available. Another thing that is disappointing is that it is absolutely necessary to reduce the number of hands attendant upon the output of the slaughter boards that would otherwise be employed. That, however, is quite beyond the control of the company until work obtains its normal limits."

Alessrs Nelson Bros.' Taruheru works resume operations on Alonday with the assurance of a full board of "slaughtermen. As a matter of fact, the company could have made a start to-day, but in i-iew of Thursday and Friday being race days, the employees generally prefer to attend the races, and Saturday being a half-day, it had been arranged to postpone "the start till Monday. Air Dewing, the manager, states that there will bo no difficulty whatever in filling the board. The men being taken on are outsiders, although several have killed at Tomoana at different times. , The few hands aro mostly from the country, who havo a knowledge of tho work.