"NOTHING NEW."

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 36, 12 February 1912, Page 8

"NOTHING NEW."

THE MEAT WORKERS' STRIKE SITUATION UNCHANGED. MEN VIEW THE POSITION LIGHTLY. "Nothing new" was the only answer which could be drawn from the strike leaders at Petone ' to-day, and a similar ! reply ' came from the manager of the Gear Company's Works (Mr. W. G. Lodder). And this, apparently, sums up the ' position, for, from what can be gathered, there have .been no fresh developments on either side. It is regarded as practically certain that neither the Gear 'Company nor the Meat Export Company j will accede to the whole of the demands -even if their action means a closing of I the season at this early date ; but a compromise may be arrived at. This was suggested to some of the men this morning, and a few of them at least seemed to take a favourable view. Anj othei reply was: "No. We won't be satisfied with anything less than we have asked for." PETONE QUIET. ' In the meantime Petone is quiet; in fact, there waß nothing this morning to indicate that 500 or more men were idle. Groups gathered at street corners and discussed the situation and other I matters freely, but as tht> morning wore on these dispersed, and by 12 o'clock Jackson-street presented- a deserted appearance. Saturday night in Petone. was | abnormally quiet. Very few of the I strikers put in an appearance' on the streets, and a Socialist who had attended, presumably to address them, had to be content wsh an audience composed of the , general public, and which numbered about fifty. There was little or no enthusiasm at this meeting. Contrary to expectations, there was no demonstration on Sunday. CONDITION OF THE WORKS. The Gear Company's Works this morning presented an unusual .sight. There are still about 150 men employed there, but nevertheless the place seems . dead. Opportunity has been taken during the spell to clean up, and now everything is looking bright. The floors, even in the manure room, are beautifully white, and this says much for the willing manner in which the permanent hands have gone about) their work. In other departments necessary repairs are being effected, and the whole place is being haeed down. Everything was left in such • a state that \ great deal of cleaning-up was necessary, and in this direction the time for the strike was well planned. • It now transpires that on^ the day previous to the men coming out 7000 sheep were killed, which is practically the full .capacity of the works. This left a great deal of stuff on hand for next day,, and the fact that the men worked for two hours did not tend to improve the situation. The company stood to lose heavily, but it was saved this by the fact that tht» "pullers" remained loyal, -.and also, the engine-room staff. The Gear Company has now saved" pracMcally everything. , THE COMMON CAUSE. "Will the strike extend?"' That is a question which is now being asked "very frequently. Anything definite- it is impossible to get from the men. " Wait and see," said one unionist to a reporter. It is stated on the best authority, however, that the union affected principally—the general labourers— had adopted the syndicalists' warcry — '"An injury to one is an injury to all." So far the I waterside worKers are the only outsiders spoken of as coming to th© assistance of the meat-workers. It"" is stated that they will refuse to handle mutton ' coming from the local works. It is understood that two boats 'wilt be in Wei'lington next week for the purpose of taking meat from the Gear Company and also from the Meat Export Company. A prominent member of the Slaughtermen's Union also stated that when the men go back there must be-no "victimisation" on the part of the company. "If they try that on," he said, i "we will stick down a fall of sheep and leave the works" — meaning that they I" would merely kill the sheep which happened to be penned and leave them. THE PULLEK& One outcome of the strike will probably be the cancellation of registration I under the Arbitration Act by the Pul1 lers' Union. This is already freely spoken of. The pullers would then throw in their lot with the labourers. There are 20 pullers employed, and they have continued loyal 2 much against the will, it is understood, of some of them. - With regard to the rumoured threatened intimidation of the firemen, who are also remaining on, the union wishes to state that it has not approached these men officially, asking them to "down tools." "We can rely on them to come out when we want them," said one of the Strike Committee. "out For fun." The strikers generally seemed quite unconcerned at the turn matters have taken, and evidently do not regard the position as very serious. "You can say we're out for fun," said one striker, "and that we have arranged a series of amusements to fill in the week. We are not downhearted in the least. This afternoon we are holding a cricket match. We will all be there. To-morrow we are holding a picnic at Day's Bay, and it's going to he a. "lively turn-out." EMPLOYERS RETICENT. From what can be gathered in town the position in regard to the strike remains unchanged. The leading men in the companies involved preserve aai extreme reticence, holding that such a course is better both in the public interest and in view of a possible settlement. The statement that the Meat Export Company's permanent staff are likely to strike is ridiculed. Nor is there any truth in the rumour that the permanent etaff have been given, or ar© likely to be given, notice, so long as there is any prospect of a settlement. A number of tradesmen, such, as mechanics, carpenters, and painters, casually employed during the season, have, however, received notice for the ' time being. In regard tt. the "freezer^" — men employed in tne freezing chamber , — who were receiving Is 4d an hour before going out, it i& pointed out that their work is not so severe as that of the men employed in handling the meat at one ship's side -and in the ship's hold. There is much work in a freezing works, •which is comparatively light. PICNIC TO BE HELD. A "strike" picnic will be held at Day'e Bay to-morrow. ' Sports will be held and cricket matches have been arI ranged ' between the men of the Gear I Company and the men of the Meat Export Company. The different departments have ieaued challenges for matches, and, if the weather is favourable, a very enjoyable day is anticipated. Grocers and other tradesmen at Petone have contributed towards the picnic. It ie possible that during the dity addresses will be delivered on the subject of ths strike by the leaders of the movement. FEDERATION OF LABOUR NOT IN IT. It has been rumoured that the Federation of Labour i& taking a hand in the strike. This Was put to Mr. M. J. Reardon, secretary of the Slaughtermen's Union, to-day, atid:^ received au absolute denial. So fai^lie was not aware, that the federation nt*d anything tg.do with- -the matter at aIJ %