SLAUGHTERMEN AND THE BALLOT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3059, 21 April 1917, Page 9

SLAUGHTERMEN AND THE BALLOT

' APPEALS HEARD SOME FURTHER ARGUMENTS Appeals made by Mr. M. J. Reardon, secretary of tho Slaughtermen's Union, on behalf of several slaughtermen were considered further yesterday by the Second Wellington Military Servico Board. Tho cases had been adjourned in order that Mr. Reardon might produce a letter, he had received from the Acting-Prime Minister dealing with the position of slaughtermen under tho Military Service Act. Mr. Reardon produced tho letter, which showed, ho said, that there had been an understanding that New Zealand slaughtermen would not be taken into the forces and replaced by Australians. The Australian slaughtermen would not have come to New Zealand for tho season under any other, conditions. He wanted tho Government to keep faith with the men-in this matter. The chairman: You seem to misunderstand the position. We only want to know whether theso men are bonafi.de" slaughtermen. Mr. lleardon: You would not take my word for it yesterday. I was prepared to swear that the men were employed as slaughtermen. The chairman: You said you < could not do that. Mr. Reardon: I could swear that, at tho latest advices I had received, they were employed as slaughtermen. After' reading the Minister's letter the chairman said it authorised Mr. Reardon, as secretary of the union, to bring forward appeals in Wellington, but stated that cases might be referred to other districts if the evidence available iii Wellington was not sufficient. The board, -therefore, would not be breaking faith with anybody in remitting cases to other boards, as it had proposed to do. Mr. Reardon: But why would you not take my word yesterday? ■ The chairman: Because you stated you could not swear . positively thai the men were at present employed as slaughtermen. Some of them might be miles away from the freezing works by this time. "Mr. Reardon: Tins board appears to be taking up the attitude that now the end of the season has been reached tho men should be sent into camp. The chairman: If the men are not wanted.why should they not, be sent into camp? Mr. Reardon produced another letter from the Minister stating that slaughtermen were regarded as essential workers, and affirming that Australians would not be used to replace ■enlisted New Zealanders. The chairman: That is all very well. We are not - concerned with it. We have only to . deal with these cases before us, and we. must deal with each on its merits. You seem to be suspicious of this board, and you have made all sorts of insinuations quite unjustified. . > ' ' Four appeals made by Mr. Reardon on behalf of slaughtermen were before the board. Mr. Reardon produced telegrams from manageis of freezing companies showing that the men were actually, at work._ i The board adjourned the appeals sine die, with a stipulation that tho men 'should engage in some essential industry during the off season: