THE UNION'S NEW MOVE.

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

THE UNION'S NEW MOVE.

OPINION IN WELLINGTON

(SPECIAL TO " THE PRESS.")

WELLINGTON, February 6. Everywhere that conversation turned upon striko matters the solo topic ivas the action of the s-aughtermen in seeking again the protection of tho Arbitration Act. Various are the reasons assigned for the Unions' action. Tho most frequent is that the Unions are anxious to prevent the registration of other bodies of workers now referred to as "free labourers," and by a less polite term. Th?re is no doubt that tbis reason had a deal to do ivith tho hastening of the Unions' new move, but it appeal's to be a fact that the Unions intended from tho beginning to act as ; they have now done. They have evaded I the fines under the Act; and now the}can get the support of the Act, behind an agreement, should such be made with any of the companies. If slaughtering were an ordinary trade, if it were a business in which the dctay meant no more than postponed profits, the ruse of the-Unions would have availed them nothing. The companies might have at once created a dispute in the way Avhich the law provides for, and an award wou.d have been brought into existence., but meat freezing is a seasonal trade, and delay in production, if the delay is for any term of more than a few days, means total loss of business for that year, so if the companies were to hail the slaughtermen before the Court, it would be certainly more than a month, and very prob:tbiy three months later before an award could be obtained, and even then if it did not please the men they need not accept ivork on the terms iaid down under it. It Is very unlikely therefore that the companies will invoke the aid of the Court which in powerless to assist them Especial y will they bo slew to set the luv in motion in view cf the ready response a number of the country com panics are finding to their calls for frc? labour. It is after all a very slight ad vantage to the employers to have the n:cn bound under an award, when they mn throw off the voice of the Act so easily. All the advantage is on the *-ide of the men, who get a Government official to see that the terms of an

award aro carried out instead of having to strike every time some new condition is imposed by the employer. This, it is 6:ud, is the main reason Avhich actuated the Unions in deciding to register as soon as all danger of fines Avas out or i the way. Everywhere in the provincial i towns of the North Island come accounts of numbers of men having been engaged to man the killing boards, in every case ivherc Labour is available, things have run smoothly, and no trouble has occurred with other bands at > the iiurks It is understood that Mr M. J. Reaid in, secretary of the Federation, left for Napier to-day, and that his visit has to do with the declired V- ethe Freezers' Union there not to strike lin sympathy ivith the slaughtermen.