A TRUCE IN FREEZING WORKS DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 59, 3 December 1926, Page 12

A TRUCE IN FREEZING WORKS DISPUTE

NEW AWARD TO BE ASKED FOR MEN TO MAKE START AT ALL WORKS

The conference between the representatives of the freezing companies and the Freezing Workers’ Union, which lasted all day on Wednesday, was resumed yesterday morning, under the presidency of the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. P. Hally). The conference concluded at midday yesterday, when the Conciliation Commissioner announced that the parties had agreed to immediately make joint application to the Arbitration Court for a new award to supersede the existing award, which does not expire until June, and that if the Arbitration Court should amend the rates of wages such alteration, if any, be made retrospective, as far as possible, to December 1. It was also agreed-that the men should be instructed forthwith to accept engagement at all works. The employers were represented at the conference by Sir Francis Boys (New Zealand Refrigerating Company, Canterbury), and Messrs J. Milne (Wellington Meat Export Company), T. Simpson (Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company), F.»S. Candv (Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Freezing Company), J. T. Rogerson (Longbum Freezing Company), W H, Tripe (Gear Meat Company) , D. Allan (Wairarapa Frozen Meat Company), C. G. Wilken (secretary of the South Island Freezing Companies’ Asociation), and F. B. Sanderson (secretary of the North Island Freezing Companies’ Assocation). The workers were represented by Messrs. H". C. Revell (secretary of the New Zealand Freezing Workers’ Federation), A. McLeod (Wellington), T. C. Ellis (Canterbury), A. Baker (Wellington), J. Hutchinson ([.'resident of the Freezing Workers’ Federation), E. Siel (Auckland), J. Miilburn (Otago and Southland), and A. Hudson (Poverty Ray).

VOLUNTEERS PROVING COMPETENT Dominion Special. Feilding, December 2. Fourteen butchers arc at present engaged at the Feilding works, and all work is proceeding smoothly. Great progress has been made, and the men have rapidly reached a state of efficiency which enables them to deal easily with the Stock coming forward. Up to the present about 2006 carcasses have been

prepared for freezing, and the adversity of the weather and the backwardness of the stock is allowing the volunteer slaughtermen to become hardened to tile job slowly. The rush of work is expected later this month or early in the New Year, but in any case the management of the works are confident of being able to deal satisfactorily with any number.

Little is at present known of the new union, which is reported to have been formed, but it is understood that negotiations to that end are proceeding quietly.

LOADED BY FREE LABOUR, PORT HOBART'S MEAT CARGO. Bi’ Tllbsbaph.—Peeks Association. Napier, December 2. Free labour completed loading frozen meat to the Port Hobart this afternoon, ami the vessel got away at 5.30 p.m. for London, via Panama. Two shifts of free labour, which loaded this vessel, then transferred to the Ruahine, and wi’l. despite the settlement of the freezing workers’ dispute, carry right through with the loading of the RuUhine, which must be dispatched by Sunday at the latest in order to reach London in time for the January wool sales.

UNSEASONABLE WEATHER OPENING OF CANTERBURY WORKS DELAYED. Dominion Special. Christchurch, December 2. As a result of the cold and unseasonable weather that has been experienced during the past week, the opening of the freezing season in Canterbury is being delayed still further. A month ago the companies had hopes of being in a position to open their works ou Monday, November 29. Since then, however, the conditions have been far from satisfactory as regards the preparation of stock, and it is now doubtful whether it will be possible to commence the killing season on Monday, December 13.