Slaughtermen Leaving

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32035, 9 July 1969, Page 12

Slaughtermen Leaving

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 8. There was a considerable drain of skilled slaughtermen and boners from New Zealand’s primary produce industries to Australia, the president of the Wellington Freezing Workers’ Union (Mr F. B. Thom) said at the week-end. Conditions in Australia were superior. Eighteen slaughtermen from the Whakatu works in Hawke’s Bay, left Auckland for Adelaide, an Auckland message says. They will work for three months at meat works owned by Metropolitan Meats, Ltd, before returning to Hastings. The trip, arranged by the two companies, will provide offseason work for the men.

Mr Thorn said a complete chain went to a Melbourne works earlier this year. Other men had gone to abattoirs in the Perth district. “Several of our men have gone to abattoirs in New South Wales, then they go to Western Australia, then up to Alligator Creek,” Mr Thorn said. “This way they get yearround employment. “New Zealanders are keenly sought after, and because many of them can crutch and shear they have no difficulty in getting full employment. “This represents a brain drain of skilled men from New Zealand’s primary produce industries. Although it is in the interests of the men, because the Australian conditions are so much better, it is not in the best interests of New Zealand.”

The position for slaughtermen in New Zealand was likely to get worse. With the introduction of new hygiene regulations slaughtermen had lost their margin, and increasingly preferred to work

at hourly rather than piece rates. “We will see the Minister of Labour (Mr Shand) on Thursday to see what can be done,” Mr Thorn said. He estimated that more than 80 slaughtermen and boners had gone to Australia this year. Many of them might not return.