Ruling On Moslem Killing Refused

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29910, 25 August 1962, Page 12

Ruling On Moslem Killing Refused

(New Zealand Prest Association)

WELLINGTON. August 24

The Arbitration Court was not prepared on the evidence before it to fix a rate for Moslem killing, said Judge Archer today in an oral decision on a dispute between the Wellington Meat Export Company and the Wellington Freezing Workers’ Union.

Both the claims and the counter-claims filed in rela-

tion to the proceedings for a new award included provisions for killing under Moslem rites, and because of this the Court considered it would be undesirable to give a decision which would be bound to prejudice the consideration of this matter by the parties in Conciliation Council.

The dispute arose from the fact that about January last the company decided to kill sheep according to Moslem rites in an attempt to foster the sale of New Zealand mutton in Fiji and. later, in Pakistan and South-east Asia During these operations it was suggested by the men that the Moslem method involved some delay in the working of the chain, but the president of the union directed the men to continue working and they were paid ordinary rates. The union subsequently refused to continue this work except at double rates, claiming that it involved a

ritual killing comparable with the killing according to Kosher rites.

A disputes committee failed to reach agreement, and the company referred to the court the question: “What should be the piecework rate of pay for slaughtering sheep and lambs according to Moslem rites.’’ It was made clear by the parties that the dispute did not concern the rates paid for the work already done, said Judge Archer, and it

was their desire to have rates fixed for killing in accordance with Moslem rites in the future.

While the evidence given to the Court related substantially to the work done at Ngauranga. it appeared that if the Court fixed rates as requested in the application. thif would materially affect and prejudice the fixing of rates for the freezing industry throughout New Zealand. The evidence called did not establish that any delay had been caused by the use of the Moslem method of kiting at Ngauranga and it was claimed by the companylthat there was no justification for the union's claim for a special rate. The union expressed doubt, however, as to whether Moslem rites had been fully complied with at Ngauranga. and claimed that it was reasonable to suppose that, where a full chain was in operation. there would be sortie delay