FREE LABOUR.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18591, 16 January 1926, Page 12

FREE LABOUR.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS FREEZING COMPANIES' ACTION.. COMPLETE STOPPAGE POSSIBLE. The period of suspense during which both sides in the freezing dispute have been merely marking tim© has been ended by the decision, on the seventh day of the go-slow, of the freezing companies to invite applications for employment from any men willing to undertake the work.

A meeting was held yesterday, when representatives from various Canterbury farmers' organisations met representatives of the Canterbury freezing companies in referenco to the labour trouble at the works. The farmers' organisations have undertaken to enrol men in the event of any stoppage occurring at the freezing works. It is anticipated that notices will be posted in the works to-day cancelling the previous notices reducing the output per man to four per hour, and ordering the resumption of the normal killing rate. A union delegate is stated to have left for the south yesterday for the purpose of conferring with the men employed at the various works in other districts. Four Seasons Ago. Only in some respects is the present dispute similar to that of 1922, when the whole of the South Island works were involved. When the companies, in accordance with a pronouncement of the Arbitration Court, made a reduction in wages, a strike was declared by the Freezing Trade .Unions. In the second week of the stoppage the companies called for volunteer labour, and had no difficulty in carrying on operations until the end of the season. A considerable number of the men were fined for being parties to a strike. COMPANIES' ATTITUDE.

SUPPORT OF SOUTH CANTERBURY FARMERS. At yesterday's meeting of the South Canterbury A-. and P. Association the chairman said they would have to do something in respect of the freezing i works disturbance. Things could not go on as they were at present. ■ Mr H. Lowry said that he thought it was a matter for the Meat Board.

Mr T. K. Mackay said he understood that the freezing companies were going to offer an ultimatum to the men today. Mr H. Elworthy said that any action taken by bodies such as the A. and P. Association would have an effect in quelling the disturbance. Mr D. Grant said that, the freezing companies knew their business better than did the Association. He knew of men who did not want to "go slow." Mr Mackay: These men would work, but they are'frightened of being called "scabs." He moved: "That this meeting is heartily in accordance with the attitude of the Canterbury freezing companies in regard to the present trouble at the various works, and promises its support in any action that maiy be deemed necessary, with a view to minimising loss to producers." Mr Mac Donald, in seconding the motion, said that he would support the companies. It was, not a fair proposition that lambs should be yarded, and then left to lose condition. • The motion was carried unanimously.

TO THB EDITOR 0* "iHS TEBSS." Sir,—The letter from "Victim'' in your issue of Friday draws attention to one of the two points in Labour legislation which the Government will have to tackle.

His plea for a secret ballot b'efore any drastic move is taken by any union is unanswerable. I have recently spoken to watersiders who say nearly all the delays in their work would be eliminated by such —they say definitely the moderate men will not put themselves in the position of being insulted and abused by open opposition to the Communist mischief-makers, who force their way to the nosition of leaders._ The other vital question is deregistration of any union that cannot control its members. The Arbitration Act gives very great privileges and benefits .to the unions. What about their duties and responsibilities ?. These pin-pricking and job control tactics are disowned -by the unions (at least in public). Very well, tell- them if they cannot control their members they are unfit to benefit by the Act and deregister them.

Now, Sir, the moderate people of this country look to the present Government to Btop the one-sided way in which the Arbitration Act is run at present. _ It looks to Mr Coates to take action to see that the Act is not continually abused bv the unions to the cost of the rest of the community. The primary producers especially look to bim to protect them from tie grossest abuse of an Act of Parliament which is at present flagrantly broken every week by the very men who brought it into being;.—Yours, etc., JUSTICE.

TO THE EDITOR or "the PP.SSS." Sir, —I would like to ask what is wrong with the Canterbury Freezers' Union. Surely something must be wrong with the management, seeing that the Wellington district .is about twice as strong as Canterbury, and very little trouble comes from that quarter. Is it not time we had a change of management? Cannot we get someone who will play the The present trouble is due to the officials. I have seen within the last few days _ correspondence from them which convinces me that their actions alone are the cause of the present trouble. They dra.w salaries from the freezing organisations, trouble or no trouble, and we have to walk round with no money in our pockets and nothing in the cupboard. Wake up, men! and put these officials out of office.— Yours, etc., PLAY THE GAME.