THE POSITION IN OAMARU.

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

THE POSITION IN OAMARU.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION* TELEGRAM.) OAMARU, February 5. Questioned as to whether the men were likely to accept the 27s Gd offered : by the companies, a local member of tho Slaughtermen's Union replied that ho did not think so. Neither did he think I the butchers would adopt aggressive j action in the event of the board being | manned by free labour. "Let the free labourers "free labour as long as they . like," said he; "most of the butchers •up there" (meaning apparently the ! Wellington butchers) "have accepted J other billets, and lsuppose we will do j the same here. Wo lived before wo ! went to this game, and wo can livo I again now." I The "Mail" states:—"Thero is a ; widespread feeling among the farmers jin this district that the companies should havo mado such arrangements with the men, oven to the extent of giving 30s per hundred, as would havo assured the season's killing being car- | ried on without tho interruption of a I strike. As it is, the lanjb business is 1 paralysed, and at a timo when many farmers were relying on the disposal of their lambs to meet financial obligations. Three years ago, when the rate was raised to 25s per hundred, fat lambs were selling at lis to 12s. To-day tho price of fat lambs is 18s, but it must not be forgotten that it costs more now ;to produce a fat lamb. Ewes are scarcor and therefore dearer. Land jis dearer and labour is dearer."