SLAUGHTERMEN ON STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 32, 1 November 1929, Page 13

SLAUGHTERMEN ON STRIKE

THE AUCKLAND TROUBLE CONCILIATORY LETTER FROM COUNCIL Dominion Special Service. Auckland, October 31. There were no developments in the strike ot slaughtermen at the city abattoir, and the works of R. and W. Hellaby, Limited, at Westfield, to-day. None of the 100 men who went out on strike on Wednesday has returned to work, and killing is being carried out by master butchers. who are providing supplies for their own shops, and by others engaged for the purpose. A special meeting of the City Council’s market and stores committee was held to-day, when a resolution passed by the Butchers’ Union refusing to accept the conditions imposed by the Arbitration Court, which, it was contended, had framed a new award contrary to the evidence given, was received. After the committee had considered the position the town clerk was instructed to send the following letter to Mr. W. ESill, secretary of the union : “In connection with the resolution carried at the meeting of slaughtermen on Tuesday evening in regard to the recent abattoir award. I was directed at a meeting of the City Council’s market and stores committee, held this morning, to state that if the men will resume work the council will then be prepared to consider any representations they desire to make in regard to the award.” , Air. Sill stated this afternoon that the letter contained an offer of conciliation such as was to be expected from a'-’ employer in the circumstances. As tar as 'it went the tone of the letter was appreciated, and the men would consider the whole question at a special meeting In certain publicity given to the lettei to the union from the City Council, it had been suggested that the slaughtermen were to be forced to return to work. In view of the contents of the council s letter, the suggestion was not only wrong, but also liable to create an entirely erroneous impression of the position of the men. They would not be forced to resume work as far as he was concerned, and such statements were only likely, to prevent a satisfactory settlement being reachedi . The Mayor (Mr. G. Baildon) said that although killing operations had' been affected somewhat by the strike, there was little likelihood of a shortage ot meat in Auckland. The master butchers - had taken the matter in hand, and were maintaining supplies of meat. Haying offered to hold a conference should the men decide to return to work, the council would await the result of tomorrow’t meeting of slaughtermen before taking any further action. . . Mr. P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, stated to-niglit that owing to his absence in Wellington on official business, he was unaware of any trouble between the slaughtermen and their employers until his arrival in Auckland. He intended to communicate with the representatives of the parties concerned in an endeavour to bring about an improvement of the position. As a result of the employment of master butchers and other workers at the City Abattoir, and that of the company, there is no likelihood of a shortage of meat in Auckland.