STRIKE REPRESENTATIVES AT BELFAST AND ISLINGTON.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14660, 8 May 1913, Page 7

STRIKE REPRESENTATIVES AT BELFAST AND ISLINGTON.

A MIXED RECEPTION

'Having got wind of tho fact that some representatives of militant unionism wcro contemplating holding a meeting at tho Belfast Freezing AVorks yesterday, a "Press" reporter went out to tho works to see- if tho rumour had any foundation iv fact. On the way out, about noon, a large number of butchers were met cycling into town, and it looked as though a decision to "como out" had already been put into effect. However, it transpired subsequently that the works were only running a short day on account of killing out, nnd in consequence the butchers were off duty. The meeting was timed to take i>laco about 12.30, and shortly after that time the two representatives of tho South Canterbury strikers were th<3 centre of a small crowd of about fifty men, who congregated in the' road passing the C.F.M. Co.'s office at Belfast. Tho speakers.were Air R. Gould and another, who modestly declined to give his name, but who was said to be Webb, a Smithfiqld butcher, and they formed part of a party consisting of Messrs Uouid, Webb, Carl, and Waddell, who were delegates from the Timaru "Waterside Workers' Union and the Smithneld butchers, and who came up from the south on Tuesday. Tho audience at Belfast consisted chiefly of freezers and other employees, and there were but few butchers present. • It would be incorrect to say that tho reception accorded to Mr Gould and his companion was exactly hostile, but it was not a favourable one by any means, and many of the listeners mado it exceedingly plain that they did not agree with the sentiments expressed by the delegates. These gave a brief and more or less highly-coloured account of the conditions that had led up to the trouble at the Smithfield and l J arcora works, and the incident of the alleged threatening with a revolver was not forgotten. Tug word "scab" was also frequently used, and it seomed rather to irritate tho audience than amuse them. In any case, one delegate was moved to ask, "Do you think, then, that a scab is as good as a unionist?" ana tho emphatic answer of a young man present, "Yes, I do!" was received with what sounded uncommonly like approving laughter and call 3of "Good boy," ;'\V r ell, they are men, anyhow." The intention of the principals in the meeting seemed

to be to urge all tho employees to roll up to tho big meeting that was to bo held in the Trades Hail in tho evening, where they could hear tho whole thing threshed out and decide whether they would support the southern men in their action. A good many of thoso present were insistent to know what proof the delegates had concerning all tho allegations they had made about the southern affair, but they did not get much satisfaction, becauso they were told they should have faith in the integrity and truthfulness of their fellow unionists, who had snid that theee things did happen. "Five hundred men would not stop work if there was not some real cause, would they?" argued one of the speakers. "But tell us what provocation tho man had who is said to have drawn a revolver," asked ono of the Belfast employees; "Would not you draw a pistol too if a man threatened you with a knife?" "If a man went for mc with a knife, and I had a gun, I would shoot him," cheerfully answered one of tho delegates, and the crowd laughed. Tho strike representatives continued to impress on their hearers the necessity for a good attendance at the evening meeting, when matters that could

not be spoken or publicly would be discussed, and they expressed the hope that they would vote in favour of supporting their fellow-workmen. "We will vote now if you like," said half-a-dozen of the crowd, and a call for a. show of hands was made. The delegates said that they were .not there that afternoon to call for any formal resolutions on the matter; it would be time enough when everyone had heard all that there was to be said on the question. A preat principle was at stake, nnd the North Canterbury men would find out their error in tho near future if they did not combine with other organised labour. Tho speakers I hoped that, if stock from the south was sent north to bo slaughtered, the Belfast men would" not handle it, but •were met by the response, "Why not? we nre all one company, anyway." ; While someone was asking the dele-

gates why they came up to Belfast and endenvoured to raise strife when theworkers there were all satisfied, ami were working amicably together, the one o'clock -whistle went, nnd the meeting broke up nmid cries of "Come on, chaps, let's go back to work." It "was said that a meeting of union butchers was hold at Belfast yesterday in one of the men's houses, the delegates not being present, nnd here, according to the statement made to "The Press" representative, the proposal to strike in sympathy with tho southerners was lost by a fair-sized majority. AT ISLINGTON.

A mooting of similar import and upon similar lines was held outside the gates of the Islington Freezing Works yestorday nt midday, and here attain tho reception was stated to be not wildly enthusiastic. Several non-union butchers tvho wero spoken to said emphatically that whatever hnpw>n«l thov were going to "stick to "their jobs." CONFERENCE DECLINED. The southern delegates waited, upon the companies yrstordny with n yew.to nrrnnginir a conference, but the companies declined 1 to consider tho matter.

A largely-attended meeting of the Slaughtermen's Union was held last night, and lasted till 11 o'clock. On a representative of "Tho Press" approaching the secretary for information regarding tho business transacted, ho wns informed that there was absolutely nothing available for publication.