THE SLAUGHTERING DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 710, 8 January 1910, Page 6

THE SLAUGHTERING DISPUTE.

POSITION STILL CRITICAL. THE -WORKS ' RUSHED MTHYSTOCKI':;?,

I \, 'CONTESTED POINTS EXPLAINED.

j. The position, of, &e dispute m the f daughtenng tode continues to cause con- ' s;aerable .a'lsiety. The .demand for t increased pay which has been made I in-"-Wellington made at I Chnstchuroh,. where a statutory notice > F of k intention to' strike* has beqn setved 1 , npqn the iVro meat companies l ' there, oi.upon tho Wellingtpn Meat Exl pprt Company. , " ', This is understood to L be I the outcome of the meeting "of the exe- * enbve ef'the New Zealand Slaughterf , men's 'Federatipn, held vn Wellingten 8 j eholrtly. befpre Christmas, and it is fnr- ' ther understood notices ha\o ' been,6ent to the big meat companies \ thronghont.New Zealand. It was f>tated I 'yesterday aftornson that a copy of the 1 notica £ad not ~been received by the I Clear Meat Conrpaiiy.i but those at tho Y head °f the company, when questipned a { little lfltei, -would neither admit nor I ' deny having received it Meantime wort [ is prpceedine actively, and tp all appearf'v ances--smoothly at ,Ngahauranga and at [ , JPetone. 1 U ■'Jin view 'of the possibility of a \ \\ dnughtsrmen's strike, groat activity is v f l)eing shown in getting 6tock forward tp I If the meat wprks The pastprahsts all t over the district are anxious to ha\e I their "freezers" and other stock dealt fj.ji.with Hnmediately, even if laey would, r' > under ordinary ctrenmstances, be the botr ter for a few weeks longer in the pasf tures The buyers for the meat freezing [, -works are, ef course, perfectly ready to ( co-operate m the endeavonr to l hurry the f Bteck fprwarii ' • '< y One result is Been in the abnormally t'" heavy, sheep traffic on the railways, ', *i!--wln(isi'must be obvious to all who,keep Li en eye upon t the trains. Special sheep * trains "are being run every day on the 1 and Wairarapa lines, to cope \, if traffio which is very much heavier I than the normal. About 200 waaonj loads' of sheep are being railed daily to L , Fetpne,Ngahauranga,andJphnaonvill3,the ' three stations which servo the local freez- [, ing works. As a truck holds 65 bheep, it * r follows that 13,000 sheep per ,diem are J"- at the 'three etitions , named 1 Fully 95 i per cent of those' must bo * l destined freezing works, that is [ to say, 6P.metb.lng pvor 12,000 This numI ber is j rather in. excess of the normal i lulling capacity of the works,,which may ir beowkoned at 11,000, or 6000 fpr tho Gear (Company and 50M for tho Meat Export . Company It may.-be mentioned that ; up ,to Christmas the works were less p busy' than they usually are in the early ' -- -* part of tho season, and that the' season _ aoes , not generally reach its height'until ■ February. There are indications that 1 the sheep will be sent forward even more I rapidly within the next few days. f , 'ts ' ' f !,\'THE_MEN'S DEMANDS. ; j rWENTT-I , rVE SFTT.LTNGS, OS ' f. * J / ' „ STEIKE.i : 'The letter which the'unicn. has forwarded to the Wellington Meat Export Company is signed by the men. It is as " follows —' 1 - " 1/ '•In compliance with the provisions* \i nt>i Section 9* of .the Industrial Coni" dilation and Arbitration Amend'ment Act, 1908, notice is ■ by ns of our iin- ' * tention tp stnko if the demands of , thosttoion' for a'minimum rate of 25s '' per 100 sheep'or lambs,'and other ' conditions' as h'erot attached, are not coriccM. ' •; r ', J ■. " liHourWof Worii'TrWork\ shall com--5 mence a±tß?a.nj eachiiiay, unless other- ?, lfise mutually agreed between the foreman and slaughtermen employed at the f respective works. Work shall cease after ,eight hours-(including Bmoke-ohs) on fiye days ol the week, and after 12 neon- on Saturdays. -. -, * j,. "1 ' 1 f! r M ■■ r 2 Bates pf Pay—The rate of pay for ell sheep, lambs, cattle, , and pigsslaugh- : tered at the factorfes shall, bo as followsl—All sheep,and lambs not otherwise specified, 255.' per hundred, all rams and ngs, double rates, all lambs requiring back-sets, double rates, all sheep lambs that are deadfwhen brought I, to the works, Is each; all cattle, 2s, , each; all dead -cattle, 55., all pigs over . 1001b. m, weight, ls'6d , less than 1001b Is. each; calves up tp 1001b,' each Is , I over 1001b, Is. 6d. each.' ' , 8. Payment of / Wages —Wares ehall , r Dβ paid weekly, but Tjo slaughterman" , shall be 1 employed 'on weekly wages , 4 .Waiting Tune.—ln each caws where slaughtermen aro required to rait for work after the usual time for starting work they shall be, paid at the rate of u fe per hpur for all time so eccupied in waiting. Slaughtermen 'to wait 15 I minutes in'the e/ent of a cut out, but t after that time to be paid 2s per hour , for all tune so occupied in waiting ■ [ , .>5 Stoughtermen's Work—The follow- - < Big shall constitute slaughtermen's wort—Killing, taking off skins, talong jnsides U cut, wiping and hanging off. Hi 6 Damage.—No shall be M required to buy any carcass he<may dam,3, U «ge, and no fines shall be allowed. JV 7. Competent Men-None but compe- \\ , tant men shall be employed as'slaughters' men. • ' , 1 ' 8-Eegulation—Each slaughterman shall t ] to provided with a hopk, and not mpre t< tnan two -men shall be allowed to work I m any one pen. 3 i_ fl B Mn"nne_None but union gnt- , boys shall be allowed ito barrow on the ■f poards, and when they barrow they shall , t leg for slaughtermen equally and m ro- I J tation No gut-boy ehall bo allowed to ieg more than threo sheep per day.' A jL gn"t-bdy is hereby defined as a person is engaged m-taking fat off paunches and If wng guts, cleaning guts, and pnllinsrloff i mnners ' - . J 10-Beef Butchers' Wprk—Beef buti\ BhaU not bo required to do the if offal, nor to pay for any labour in coni[ nection with the offal work. All cattle ' to bo penned in the pithing pens by the It employers' „ || ll.'flolidays—The Ist January, Chnsti 1 mas Day, Bonng Day, Anniversary Day, f S= Birthday of the xeigning Spvereign, .f Show Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, ]l and' Labour Dayi in each year shall be j! allowed as holidays. All' work done on m Christmas Day, Good Friday, or on faun- „'' days shall bo pud for at double rotes. 1 All werk done on any of the other tohdays shall' be paid for at the rate of / rate and a'half. '[ 12 Overtime—All work, done after 5 |i p m. , ip works the' usual hour of Jl starting is 8a m, and after eight ordit nary wprking hpurs in works whero an / earlier start "has been mutually agreed j upon, shall bo paid for at the rate of ' rate and a quarter No more than ene .' hour's overtime shall be worked on any ,; one day All work done after 12 noon p op Saturdays shall be paid for at rate '\ and a, half. v t 1 13 Preference—Employers shall omploy members^of the Wellington Slaughterlf men's TJnipn m preference to npn-mom-I fcers „ r 14 Dressing Eoom —The einpleyer shall ,\ provide dressing rppms with suitable 1' bathing accommodation, and also dimng- ( room. ' N \ 15 Management—Subject tho pro- „ vwions of this agreement, the employers ehall Lave the fullest control of their factories,,and may make such rules for the necessary and proper management ' thereof as they may deem oxpedient r * *" - — THE EMPLOYERS' TERMS. '[ TWENTY-THEEE SHILLINGS' PER 100 The terms demanded by" the tup com,l eanies in" the formal statement of claim II fnpon which, as already related in The 1 toMjtnoN, the proceedings belore'thoCon--1 filiation Cpmmissipn were were [ follow —Slaughtormen'e work shall in--1 dudo killing, removing tongues, taking ii off skins,' taking msides out, washing, f wiping, putting strings on, attaching \ ,1- tags, and banging off Tho rates of pay ' ehall bo as follow —All sheep and hmbs j not otherwise specified, 23s per 100, ' rams,/5d each, lambs requiring back «ts, sd. eich, sheep and lambs dead 1' when brought to the works, Is. each, catf '

I :•; .each;:-c^tHe:dead''when;::'bsought r- fi^q&-00.;€m$<£:j$:tfx ',' paid. e, I^^'7 ' t' e'. ;vttffiKfte^h';o&s'''*fiaSrbe^']K)fw^n , :,7.• aim;; i; an !ar: B; : >v ;W>vkvlii ; . : ■shallfbV,paid. , at ;the S : :{? t *. i 9^rafe[^;:a,;gu|^ri; ; ? shall'. ■: ■.have;.;the .right-.'to',arrange ihe hours'.of i ,work,as the {exigencies of ".their .business , I ;ehaafe4uire; !i Waiting;timejti;be.paid v at! a haves '.rosWaitrferilmpre.'.'than'is minutes- after. \. the;:]ast<mah'has cut,but. :, ln.,order to oUt j •putr-ftnyTmobiwhichymay' be'-on hand , at' i knockin'g-pff time, ...workers': shall Hhereb a it%;;>t ithree j sheepipr'-lambs;'' FoP'eaoh'-damagedvhide, c .'hroxgh. carelessness,\ls.,to;be. paidi each' .■: skin 6d:;..each;oarcass" 6d;'.'All work done S onVNew.; Year's ; ; Day r Anniversary. Day, I j-. Good,: Eriday,"' Easter .Monday,': Labour* -- .pay,;;qhristmas ■ Day.'i.Boxing ;Day;.*and : J- :Sundays ! .,td.,:be-paid :for;at l; the : irate of 5 - rate; ;andi a: .half.: ,;■ .Gutf'.: hands.'may.: bej -allb^jed J L to,;learn-onvtlie : ;b>oards, : provided;, j ;they- legjforMaughtermeh'.'equally -and'jn ■ j *pta#on>iThey;'shall- have the. , right:of j probation-acoprding to 'the' length of'time ■; ■they./haW:;served.'.ott;the i :gut-|board, 'and v .must-.-bei,membere'bf,;the' Slaughtermen's ■j iTTnibii'sbefore'Vlaariing.' No ; 'slaughterman : , shall;,.be.;,reqnired. to"buy f any,' carcass -he ' may. damage; : Each' slaughterman shall be j ■p^videdYwith.aihook, , .at , .d:'not'more;than ~ .two <inen ! .'6hall .'work in .any.: ,: l one';pen.i, Employeea shall ask permission'of • ■thejforen^:bWre , oeasing- ; wbrk:a't' : ariy. ! ;timei:"othCT,.tnan the' .-geneKil 'time ' for' ■; ceasing'.;itork. , -.{'SiiWeot'"to'...the. provisions ■■ ..of ■.'the./'iavraid/ employers 'ehall T^ve■ the :■ -f ull&t ;:'oontrol■,-'■ of'rtheir u factories', 'and '■ ;mayl;'m(to;:rook i v ;aha*'p'ror^^manegement , as ;they. ~' : ■m^;deem^xpjrfient^i; I {i!f 5;^:;';;; .p^-J ■ o^^ : fDi&pimmP()itm;& : i- ■■■:■'■ i :'fti,;'y- '■;■.; nyRD.TTMTJ 1 . ijAras;; 4'.'VksSv; >'. -vwifJi'vthe' 5.' range; of ..working rhb.urs.andv the stipula-. ■; Jtibnsras.. fines j ;for -1 damaSes - ;to. hides.-and! I.' : that, the /'employers''; new;i.pro'i jposals; differ"ifromvvthe;.! bid:.':agreement.: '■ • working "'hours ;. hayb. , .been.from ■B,'t6;-s.from*Mqndayyto i jEriday, l ):''and'!,?'."to ':T£ ;;on;' : The i; lempioyers'hayefproposed'•• 7.; : a.m; 'to J-.-jfjcil • jas "'• the , ordina'ry.,hours '■ from tMonday'-. to (■ : -Frid^y,rand'.':up;'»'{4!'pjn;...bn;Sa&f(lays. ; 1 .They,' offer, .''the. oyertirhe -rate.of Tate'and: ; !a'-?qnaxter'>'for I 'wprk:'priof,:;toi: , ;7 aim:" or.' I' Jafferi7i -pS£j::f or:! , example', ':and -for; any .;• ;pariod.*in- •exc&;.;of 1- eighUhburs • between- ;: ;r'aCin.Taiyr.7r , p.'m.v'The.meh.' : claim"'that' ; should! be allottetl ; :overtiine' r -,indepen'deiitly/■;of;:':.the -: :length "of.'timel worked, priori to -5 o'clock;. ;■ ■'Thfiy'vsupporfcPthe''- argiiment: ■ witK;;',the j i Kave. ; considerable' ' waiting:-.about■"atter'? v getting.' l a' t ''6tart;'^-In' : itheir,'new'. sliteWent(theira6n;'asli'fbr. :;;adyMtag'eS'bf : ,-' ;jncrease!.of.'2sl'inith'e'vpres^ntVldllingprate' ■■ rof ■.2&:>^ ;^^: :rt:,: ; ■■ • ; : .:At; bne .time during, the. negotiations!jie ■ r r umptwpuld;jhaveragre^d^ .' ; ,'bomp^iiies,,i^isted/,orfVa.-;renew^yi!br • two 1 :■ : j?ttS-V'';\'rff)£;~fi , r± i V*;;}?i>^^Y: l M '?■':■■: ' :-'Vf ' : '- : . ■.•y^' l /^,'"'' y " ■'■'■K :: P. : i! :^r^ l ' SsSiDDMS^Sb^StMTTON^ f . '.the:,Conciliation:. Commissionei , ,."- ' Tiirred fttho'; .unibn'-: from:'^'cati&llih£''h-;its. ; .registration;'..(had r it'";TJrishedj'i{b'?iJpVß6)V ; y.afid : -it/-';isi''ffi«^oreV/preraKe^'£tt9t.'*tho. -^ < en)-^c6nfa'iiiile^/>}bß'^mbje < qt^^^e''{|pri>' l ; .jnsTp9S , ''of;.'the-'i^bi^tipn;jAn^ajnen'i; , I ; , Act,;l9lW,:'relating"to:.sWtea^n v .the l ipaTt. .' workers'..who" ;are'j bbnnd'*by_Vini'..',award; i : i^Sfis^i^r..,;' , .;'...Cla^^'9,.vwhlch",:;impo'ses■,?^^special.'penal- -' -.ties -for,; strikesxin 'certain'! indbstfies,^ap-; '. pHes\:gmtelirrespectiye; ,: 'bf ; : the';.existencb ; [ j ■ claipiejlhat;; ther-men; fc^re. , ;OTeii'"i :pnrteen. ; 'days'jinbtice'. 'of.•:&?« -strike' • i,^.e'''qnesttbni h'a3 ,, b:eeff*aiMd'tfMether'"tliß' !" sl'aiipferag , supply f.'?® ?,-:meat ;- v for : :d6mostip: wnsumptionr'J.paragrapTi!: (e);.;of- ; Clause'.9) ';includes' , itne'jElling 5 of'; meat ' fdf; exports:'.TheV^n^n ! :liiiye;'acfel pn the assumption.that.it ■{;:' :; ■' .;' ■ |f;V|The; CpmmUsioner.;ji f , A ■ -'fiilr.'/P. 'Hailyj'' ConciMatibn , - \Gommis- ■ Isionef,'.': when; seen' yesterday'. , ; afternoon, ; iwassnpt/prepared/'tp.'rm'ake :anyirdefinito ■ : hearing officially," • rOwinß: r to■ thefrefusal 'bi-the' , -unien' "tol ; 'appbffit .>of:| 1 =Scctibn-;:32- of:th&>l9oß~Aßiendment'.Act;; . r^ads:-^^^'.:\i ; - v '.*;Ji' ;: : --■•• "j '. :;■;-Unle^lithe"s respondents,:;recommend.'•,; .-.. the ; : required.inumbe'ri'pfvi-.qualified''■'■■ Kpeysons: as'iassessbrs 'a't'least'.'one. clear";; ;": 'day.before.'.the:day ; appointed.:for'the...-.;! : '■'• hearing^ , -of- the' disputei, u the7,Cominis-':; '. .'.-'Bioner.'.shallifprthwJth.appoint-.on'vbe-i,'" ;•'.:'half .of,-the lespondents' suchtnumber .. . : .'of,, qualified/'persons: isf'.necessaryy • r.-i to supply: the full/number'of • > MsesspTS :••'■■' ! !;;rsquired.. ; i;-:-,y;:;v: :^;>:: ;^,.,..^:::;?-i;;^ '.:;;•;, : ; ? ?j^:S : i}aughjerme^s|ea|nj:n^.^ '; ■•:■ ■ f.!-At'.the.:rates..of jpa'y .that-havqi-bebn rnl-■ ■ ;ing;.hithertd, I 'a'|'goodT";sliUg , h(iefman: : ,\.:at .': .eitheriof tthetlocal^wprlcs ■■■ cpuldV/average. ; ■^Ta;.Treek...%The.:tet:'n!ipn:iin , ythq; , bnsieSj;. . part; of 'the.' season ■ have'i.made -'as'- much , as > i;27..'a:w*ek. : The'.sqason "lasts/ab'ont.iiyb , : fmphths,V;and.'aVpomp^tept/i.;sla,ughterman ■ jcto 'niake-as '.i6llo, ; during' jthat. ■pepbd.-:'Some .makeVmbre,: and'it;may! be . JEaid , :'.that "earnings :'for the:'season .vary/ .. ;fromvSl3o:to:^l6o..A^; : 7^ ; j ; ; #?"'.v;-' , '-. f.sMost;of.:theslanghtennen';ar'e'ibirds.,of ; ".passage.,:. After.,"the':iseaspn;::,in'. New■', Zea- . ilandrtthey. move von;' to : ' Queenslan d! and , ,thenceitp';New,South,Wales,- and:carry on ;';'the/same; occupation>in■ thofee,\,Stiites.'. It; : ihais'been' suggested , .that-present 'and;past '.. i'tronbles in. the .-slaughteringv/trade, in . 'New..Zealand';haTO,:been; : due:Ci' thejAns;. ■: traliaas'coming-over:hefe,-biitit is'note- . ,'W.or.th™.that, the New■Zealanders :in.:Aus- ; :tralia>were: blamedvfor'-thei.trpuble ;:'a.t. ; ;Melbbu'rne.v : ;w : 'S' ';;•'',',■■: ; ,'»--::J>-'-'- , : J*.About : ;the' dispute locallyr-TSO at ( the Gear,.works 1 ''and\6o:.:at'Ngaha.uranga.-'The -Slaughter'menJs: 'Federation'■embraces ,600 !apd yo^'memliers;^';^ I '.', , ■ '-'' ' i':Thel jrien:a're';'stated/to/:haye,been;;in-. . -fluoncefl,:'in-sortie' degree; ,by-.reports ;--of, : 'cbmparivtively.; high, slaughtering jrates in , : 1 'Australia. -It is said'ttat.terms as. high ■ ''as-265. 'a hundred;have been conceded at. ' "Aberdeen/New, South.gale's;;and-25sJ Gd. ■'■ '.to 25s;'at,oilier-places.',:Against;tliisargu- . meht: it.iis-statjid,that'.th'e., Australian' , con-; ", : ;ditioiis."are. " ;that prevail in-New ■.Zealand..;- . ;•: ,' { employers'• sid'e;;; r':'.'.. '■'■■'■ v '■;;■ vV;. : .:vTHB/.HC)TOS';. , pPj;Wp]lKv': :.,:■:■ \;"Fitm '';infprmation;-';:r«ceiyed;.. ,: yesterday by.■pne"*of •appeaT•,that : there-is every/likelihood''of serious;'.tronbleVif' the slaughtermen .stiok . to the letter ef,the. conditions 'they .'seek ts".'imppse -on the .-meat ■.freezing, com- .: panies .* doing ■!business'r,';in v Now> Zealand. '•; Leaving the, increased,price per.'loo .head ; -of/''sheep and-llambs!' , demanded- out :, of ': the: - question:'', altogether; lit, E; is ..more :• than r probable'- that ; the;.cpmpanies will '• find i it■'■ necessary' to: 'contest; ■■.to-'j the ;,end ; V ;mon's'';pli^s.:'T.V'The'-;Chiefc-of. , !i,these;.is '/ "the>hbnra"'Of'lwork'\iprbposed'/tb;'be.:iin- ;. 'pMed:'.''.6lan'se' ; l;,'bf,'jthp'9e r mands.,,reads:— '~ , :i : /.ff.Wbrk -'Bhall .:.comm'ence";at;. 8 a.m. >;. I' '..unless,;.. otherwise .■ agreed'■ 1 ; ;: between.-,, the, foremen,, and,, slaughter-:. j ' " men' : : employed ".at, '...the! .-.respective".''' ; 'iwork's/: -Work '•shallicease/ifter' eight:: !■ ;.■'hours'(including':"smpke-bhs").on five-'■'■' [. : ,'..days',pf; the ..week,'"and; ; after: ! l2- nppvi ; .. '. .-.■'■ on; Saturday&''». ; >-'7-.. s :v; >■:**; *■ •;■■' ',■'

■ The..-eightrhours :a -day-.;between the filed v - hours,! ? pf:?; 8.-■ ajn.. and ■5, p.m." is :considered; ' impossible: 'for' 'many : ' ; reas6n6.'-:;.Suoli,-aii--.arraneement : ■ would,;-itVis : stated,:go far,- towards crip-' ■ pling the -operations .of. some -of the > companies, "the inajbr' portion of:' whose out-, iPut; is'.restricted to.-'certain: seasons' of the year;.' On.referring to , .tho employers' proposals' it l ,'will, be i'eeen/:that.- they proposo "V : that'.' .'.working.' '■. hours-:, ~~> sha]l : :bey..;,between l V,.-7!.-:'.'a^in.-.-'' ; iuiil ; except 'on .Saturdays, , ,'■ when' the hours shall /ife';' between'-7\a.m.7'and ■ i p,.m. Ifhas" to :be, borne'in! mind' that- tho. lien ■j»Vβ .on pieoe-\vcjrt;' and; thatextra,.pay is ■ provided'/for Jafter. the. men' : have'',worked eight• J hours. , ' '-'.'So that;jt'.'isiiibt ' a question of'.money , that,, weighs'with- the.meat as.itMs , 'being Jri:!a' position;'toVcope. with ■ tiie ,• product', of.' tie .sl^D_farm«r : ;.whpn litvarrives.-. : -lt is imperatiye^pivjthe',farmer to got rid 'of .his.fat.vstbcElVai it'vfattens.";.A'-big'issue'is. .iiiyolyed^her.o^tto^nqtlbe-able'to .takevthe .st'6.cJcA.as .it; becomes fit' for-, killing -means in-' -dustry;, which,.has proved'. pf the. •'; cpuntry. : ;; ;.ThV;: jestrict'i.o'ri;.'. of '■; the' hQurs : ;in'Hhe'"!niannerv. sugges'ed;.iWoul4 prevent'oompanies,,from/dealing: with' the' ;.stock offering ''at.the.'busy :times- unless each -.company'iohose: to.Jnerease ■ its plant and ;eniploy .correspondingly hibre slaugh.ferineri' during. 6uoh■ strenuous periods. It. is-questioned'■:if,/such Van ■"arrangement , would.-'benefit; the: men.; v Another point governed by.>the/hours':'demand .is the uncertain 'times-: at' which:-.stock, for. killing; arrives at : causes, stoppages,.invthe! work : (payment Cor- which'; is:.provided);-'but : in.return- tho employers propose thit.'.the menvshall.be •ATailable'..fetween:i certain, hours'..to,'-as-. sist;them.'in\coping with;the sheep-when th'ey" arrive' at the works; -In.the .case'.of; a ;'steady.,'aU-th'e-year-round' ; ;industry, .a , '.fixed,' eight';h6urs'' v day ;i has; come, to-be recognised': as .quite reasonable, ;'but .'•' iii : -the meat-trade:the;conditions-are',differ-ent.' ; : A':;oertain;amount;of' : work .has: \to .be- dbne.Vln.7a!certain/ time (if/Nature' is .to'':be ; stndied.at'iall), and'big as the meat works >re' inx.New Zealand : they would

! able";tp.:dp it,withbutVputtiig.; dbwn ;mOrtfv.planf' and ; en|aging'.mpre': : hands: : '(or. '.'not "-in! , ;usoV,at.-pVeTOnt);;if;;an.;,eight'.'houre' :; -dayi ! were; ; made':cbmp^l&)ry;& ; '■-■[ i; ; K*:; pbs iTi on fa rme rs. . ; >.\y^ ■':-"Thanks.;ti{the''bqtmteous'rain's' of spring and early , summer,' there ..is a .plenitude ;Pf;'fetid.'in;i - the, , ' -Wellington 'district,, the.' jshees_fMmere..will-;Cbe7;,"able'.-tb" ; , hold;/on; 'fbr-;tpur*pr.-five7weeks:irpnger than;would' ihaW;beenJ. tho:. , .'hadxthe.season'; been 'drier.-'.'EeportsviromCall' parts, of the dis'-: i 'feed. .availabloaVfShftvwetjiyeftthoKr topy, ;hasi;had Sthe' 'effect, of?ke'eping. back.: 'theif atteningr. in" ■ f avouriiof■.;- growth, ■■ so :»that • ! in:.case ;of/'Lthe ;: toke v :'actually.^:taking; -place" \:f ortni'ght'.bence' and sb preyenting' ...the works'; from accepting stocij farmers ■in;, tUs "disWct. :iTOuld'.;nqt^be:.;very:'6er- ! iou'sly.: incTOvehionc'ed s ijfo r; ; "a;, moiitt; ■'■; St.. jleast;' after' 'that : ,date) •■The ",caso 'is re-j ■ported i '.to ibe :, : 'rather:, different'" in '..Can-. ,terbury, where -dry''(Weather ; has 'been ex■perienced/. and L :feed; will;. necessarily give lout.'qnickerithan .in , this", district. V'lt will' ;be : a- case'pf'i'dir'einecessity'lfor.'the.-.CanV 'terbury;'. sheepfariner '.tit", get/'rid-.of 'his. ishecp.'.ae :'Bbbntas;' "possible, 'so ithat" there '/is. , likely:.• to.-.be'/'a'Tush'.'of',wbrk :';ii-,.the. Southern meat' ..:.wprks ; :...dttr'ing. ,t .the "next .few days.....■'• v.v';: •■■■!'; •'■■■■ ;%: : V:/^%- '■ ? . j:THE|pOsitIONJ;;iN;^ANTERaURYrf :;^V•;lßy.■Tβ^e^apl^^^iafl';!i'asoaftUon:)■■"V■■: - ■■■i £;' l> ■ •'.■ ■'•.; v , ; ir ' P h r.I Stc Kurjc januarj ': : Beprosentatives^yo'f ■') the.:;lpckl Tfreezing companies .and.-of the '.Canterbury Slaughtermen's "Unipn'mfeet'.oni.'Tuesdayjto.' dis-) demands,madd l ,by; i th , e; , New'Zea-; land' Federated Slaughterineny,-,;; ;'."' Vi |:; : In£Re;ase:Askep;;At;a!ucklan i'v:;^;'/^'.;.','Auckland,:'January: 7. " r?;The7 Slaughtermen's K'Pederatipn,; having :decreed that >each:;onevof the--unions, affi-Iliated'.-to ;tte 'Federation .shall demand'of :the ; .:emplpyers ■anyincreased-rate.'cf ;pay, similar-.to-that'now being demanded by. 'theO'Wellingtoh ■'Slaughtermen's. Union,'the'..local;.; Slaughtermen'sV Union'• .this : morning 'notified. the; Auckland -i Farmers' ; FreezingV Company; , : of i its .;■ intention •■■■ -to' %ask"ior this, increase,'and'also, asked the' ; management to receive a deputation fiora ;the.;union':"so: that the*matter., l may. : be ;&eeJy'':dMnssed. ; : : . i ;;:':': r /;,' : -i;it : .: '■.■;■'■''.•.'"-