NO ADVANCE MADE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1362, 13 February 1912, Page 6

NO ADVANCE MADE.

• MEAT-WORKS STRIKE. THE FEDERATION OF LABOUR. WILL STRIKE EXTEND? MUTTON STEAMER HELD UP. There were no developments yesterday in Iho strike uf Iho hands at the meat works at Potoue and N'gahauranga. No advances hnvo yet been made by either side with the object of settling the trouble, and there are not even any rumours of anything of the sort. No officer of the companies will state what the directors think about it, but the general opinion at Fotone, which is the headquarters of the strike, is that neither company will, under any circumstances, at any time, concede the demand for an S to 5 o'clock day, and for overtime rales lor all work done outside those hours. Nor will any of those iu authority on either side of the dispute discuss the possibilities of a compromise being agreed upon soon or late. Who Will Win? Among the men there nve two distinct opinion.-. They are all agreed that work done late at night or in the very early morning is worth <i higher rate than that paid lor the same work between S a.m. and 5 p.m., but they differ as to what is the wisest thing for the- men to do as things are. Some of the younger men who reek little of the morrow or of anything else, persist that they must win, arguing that no companies would be willing to miss a year's profits for the few trifles the. men ask i'or. On the other hand there are apparently numbers of men of the opinion that the companies, since they are undoubtedly able, mid professedly willing, to hold out for an indefinite time, must win out. N'ono of the employers' agents will speak of their opinions definitely to newspaper men, but it is understood that they are confident of victory. They argue that the lot of a meat works hand is not different in the matter of hours from that of a milkman, for example. The business cannot be run without work at incouvenient hours, and this the men know perfectly well. In the face of this, it is argued, their demands for special rates outside of definite , hours, are unreasonable. A Surprise. "They thought this strike would be over in a couple of hours, and they were too surprised to believe it when the company shut down," said a resident of Petone yesterday, discussing tho origin of the. strike with a Dominion reporter. "They got to work early in the morning, and when they had accumulated an amount of. refuse that would quickly create insanitary conditions, and loaded tho employers with a quantity of valuable perishable goods, they struck. They never dreamt that the companies would think of closing down, and they were very doubtful as to whether the management would be able to get enough assistance to get the clearing-up work done. But the companies' retort to the strikers was to clean the works, save and make marketable all the perishable stuff, and to make ready for a siege. The men thought they wonid be called back to work in an hour or two." Also, a strike leader said on the first day of the strike: "If they clost down the works, we're beat." The works have been closed down for three working days now, and there is nothing to indicate that they may be opened again in three weeks. Loyal Hands at Work. The time is, being made use of in the two works to effect renewals and repairs, and to overhaul the machinery and fittings generally. A larger staff is probably being retained at the Gear Works than there is actual need for, but the company havo stood by the men who refused to obey (he call to "down tools," giving them such work as could bo found for them. There were rumours yesterday of discontent at the Ngahauranga works beCiiusß some of the loyal men hud been sacked. No exact information is available, but it is understood that some artisans employed during the season at work about the shops wore paid off because there was nothing for them to do. This, it was reported, led to some heartburnings among the other members of the permanent staff, but this is uncorroborated. The company officers scout thu idea that the permanent staff men are liable to join tha strikers, and they refuse to believe that there is any discontent, as alleged. Not All Happy. Signs are not wanting that tho strikers are not all happy in their ramp. The resentment against tho few men iu the town whom they persist iu calling "scabs" is increasing, and thesn men. need not expect a veryjiappy time, for a while at least. And there is not. the slightest doubt now that the Strike Committee badly want the firemen to come out, and that the latter will not. At any rate, somo of tho strike leaders have tried their best to get them out, and up to tho present those efforts have failed. It is claimed by the union men that they havo only to ask for assistance and the strike will bo extended, but this littlo bit of very efFectivo extension near at hand they have been unable to d> tain. The Strike Committee deny having approached the firemen officially, but it is stated on tho very best authority possible that some of the leaders of the strike have tried, and tried hard, to induco the firemen to come out. What the Workers Think. The Federation of Labour has been freely talked about in connection with this strike. Mr. Beardon has stated that the federation has nothing at all to do with it, but it is a fact none tho less thut the men themselves arc very much interested in the federation of Labour. Their "one strike, all strike" doctrine appeals to a union with what looks like' the losing end of a fight on hand, and tho men bavo taken up tho cry. Strikers talk their views loudly enough in the street. Stripped of the embellishments, hero is a piece of conversation heard at a hotel corner yesterday. A middle-aged man was talking to" some vigorous-looking young men, and he led oft with this:— 'It aint fair for a man on strike to go takin another job. He's takin' work that should go to other men." "Not on vonr life. If I was married, d ye think I'd refuse, a job if I was offered one? I'd take it and go back to me job at the works after the bother was over." "No, 1 maintain that a man on strike should take no work at all. 'Taint fair for a. man to come back after the strike's over, and take what the others 'as held out for." But tho youth would not have this either. He said something about "Survival of the fittest," and this seemed fairly to flatten the man with a grievance. As a matter of fact, only a few of the meat works men have yet sought or obtained other employment, bnt a few may bo looking for it this week. Jnst now they arc enjoying their rest, but they are a thrifty lot of men, generally speaking, and they will probably not remain idle for very long. Tradesmen Anxious, If the strikers have any anxiety about how long the trouble will last, they do not speak of it publicly. But there are IKople in IVtoiiu very anxious thu' it should be got river quickly, and they are the tradespeople. Already they 'hare felt a slight diminution in takings, and they expect to fuel » greater Jtriiu'cncy later. Even a publican con vt>sU>rday that he would ralher see it all done with. Their- is one tradesman in Petone wiio is said to lx> having a very bad time. He eke* out his profits by taking a. position at the Gear works, ami he is one of those who did not strike. Tongariro Delayed. The Tongariro came to Wellington on Sunday from Wanganui, and it is staled that she was to take consignments of frown meat from Petonc and Ngahauranjrn on board. The steamer should have lefl thi.- evening, Imt slip now wails for multon from the Wningnwa w.vk«. and if she set* this .ibnard without ii'ifTiap. Sb? "iU w>l "0 WednenU.v nftr-r----noon. It is not exjweted Umt the Toara-

riro will take any AVcllington mutton aboard, and the cause is not explained. Tlic men have been enjoying themselves very well in tneir days of idleness. They have behaved admirably, and th?y ].'!0- !'<■>.< nu worry about anything. Yesterday i-oiue of them played a game i:f ciickpt in (he Recreation Ground at Pitcue, and to-day a contingent is going for a picnic (o Day's Bay. There are unconfirmed and contradicted rumours that the Federation of Labour may bo represented there, and iliat there may. be strike speeches. POSITION IN WAIRARAPA. AVAIXGAWA OUTPUT RESTRICTED. [By Teleiraph.-Specia! CorrcsrondenU Masterton, I'cbriiary 12. Anxiety is benis expressed here concerning the attitude of (he men employed at the AA'ningawa I'reeziug Works." Acting, it is slid, upon instructions from Wellington, the slaughtermen are killing only fixty-four sheep per day per man instead of over ono hundred as formerly. This course has, it is thought, been taken in order to prevent the AVairarapa works putting through sheep from AVellington. Similar action is being taken at Longburn. A meeting of the general hands at AA'aingawa was held yesterday, when it is understood, that it was decided to form a union. Mr. M. .1. Reardon has been sent for. and another meeting is to bo held to-night. Ho far, the men have stated no grievance. FARMERS TO MEET. (By TciceraDli.—SoAc'al Corrc«Don£ent.l Masterton, February 12. ' It is understood that, a mass meeting of farmers is to be held hero on Satur" day to consider the position that has arisen over the freezing industry. It is stated that, if the demands made upon the AVellington firms are. conceded, an extra charge of fully one shilling per head will require to be made on every carcass of mutton dealt with.