SLAUGHTERMEN'S DISPUTE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 27, 31 July 1907, Page 3

SLAUGHTERMEN'S DISPUTE.

[BT TELEGRAPH.— TOESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, 30th July. Tho Special Board of Conciliation set up to deal with the dispute in the slaughtering trade has filed the following, recommendations : — Minimum rate of pay for various branches, provided that heads of departments or other employees already receiving wages in 'excess of the following rates, shall not be reduced thereto : Rates for killing 'nt piece: — Beef, . per carcase,' at present abattoirs, krjiing and dressing and running offal without assistance, 2s'6cl; with assistance at any other abattoirs or slaughter-house where they are killing continuously V>n full time, 2s ; rams, 5d per head ; pigs, up to 1201b, Is ; from 1201b to 2COlb, Is 6d ; over 2001b, Is per '1001b; calves, up to 1001b, Is; from 1001b to 2001b, Is 6d ; over 2001b, Is per 1001b. Mutton and lambs — At present abattoirs, present rate of pay ; at any other abattoirs, with assistance, 25s per hundred ; lambs, back-set with assistance, 4d per head ; gutmen, 45s per week ; no dead stock to be skinned more than twelve hours after death ; double price to be paid for any skinned within that time ; employers to provide one gufchand to every throe slaughtermen; where less than three slaughtermen aro employed, employers may provide one gutboy. During the first year's service boys shall receive not less than 1.5s per week, during second year 20s, third 255, fourth 355. Slaughtermen are not to yard or draft stock or to wash down or do any work in slaughter-house except actual killing and dressing of stock. Weekly wages at tho rate of 60s per week shall apply to employers killing in their own slaughter-houses for their own retail trade only, and those at present killing for their own requirements at city abattoirs. No moro than two slaughtermen shall be employed at weekly wage in any establishment. During hot weatherf when it is necessary to kill on Sundays, time off shall be allowed on Saturday in lieu of same. All timo worked in excess of 48 hours per week in slaughtering shall be paid for as ovortime. Waiting time to count in the week's work of 48 hours. Casual slaughtermen in all slaughtering work shall bo paid 5 por cent, more than ratb of pay prescribed for regular employees except piece workers. Employers and secretaries of unions ore to endeavour to settle all alleged broaches of recommendations by moral suasion. Holidays shall be allowed without stoppage of pay on New Year's Day, Good Friday, taster Monday, tha Sovereign's Birthday, Labour Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and tho day fixed for the butchers' annual picnic. The recommendations aljo provide for the union keeping an employment book at the Labour Bureau. Any worker who considers himself incapable of earning tho minimum wage may be paid such lower wage as may from time to timo be fixed, on the application ot such worker, after twenty-four hours' notice to the union by the chairman of the Conciliation Board for tho district, or such other peisons as the court may appoint. Overtime to bo paid at the rate of time and a quaitcr. The Auckland Farmers' Freezing Co., Ltd., is to bo subject to these recommendations only in connection with slock killed for local consumption, but not carcases killed fuv export and afterwards rejected owing to exigencies of business and sold locally. The agreement to be binding for two years.

The Agricultural Conference yesterday decided to set apail this evening for consideration of the question of Tural education. The debato will be opened by the following remit from Auckland : '"J.hat in tho opinion of this conleionce, the intorests of agriculture in New Zealand would bo greatly promoted by tho establishment of technical schools in certain convenient centres, making agricultural subjects a prominent feature of their curriculum, so as to offer a practical course of study dosigned to prepare boys and girls for successful country life ; which schools would nlso serve as a stepping stone from tho public school to the Agricultural College.'' Education experts from Aucklana and Wellington ace expected to jake part in the discussion ■