IS IT A BREAKAWAY ? CANTERBURY KILLERS NEGOTIATING WITH COMPANIES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1913, Page 8

IS IT A BREAKAWAY ? CANTERBURY KILLERS NEGOTIATING WITH COMPANIES

.CONFERENCE IN CHRISTCHURCH TO-DAY. The latest information to hand—information which is more than a rumour this time— is to the effect that the Canterbury killers are again wavering ; so much so. that it was decided at a meeting last evening to approach the companies with a view to work being resumed at 27s 6d per .hundred, providing the "free' 1 labourers are sent away. The Canterbury slaughtermen were to have met the companies to-day, but as We go to ' press there is no information as to the outcome of this conference. It is believed in certain quarters that the men will .not- insist on the condition re* lating to the dispersing of the services of those who have come to the aid of the meat export companies when they most- needed it. As a matter of fact, the companies in both islands have declared repeatedly that they will stand by the "free" men. This, it is understood, means that those volunteer killers who, are capable or are likely to develop as proficients will be retained. To date, the North ■ Island butchers 'have stood to their guns, unwavering. The Canterbury men there have always been fears about. . As was pointed out in The Post in a summarising article last evening, the 2s ! 6d advance offered,- by the companies means much more to the Southerners, owing' to the fact that the working conditions, particularly with, regard to the two local sheds, are much more efficient, convenient, and making for what creature Comforts can be expected in such a trade, than in a majority of sheds in the South. In connection with this return to work, it may be pointed - out that the com2ianies have all along insisted on a modification of the learners' clause, and it is likely that even if the killers in Canterbury agree to slaughter for 27s 6d, they will also be called upon to observe the conditions of the old award. How the North Island will be affected in the event ,of . agreement being arrived at in the South (as appears likely) it is difficult •to ascertain. From the fact that in all the negotiations so far the companies throughout I the Dominion have jrombined, it can be presumed that there will be co-operation' with the North Island if a settlement is reached in Canterbury.' ' It -is' stated that there is 'a movement on foot to form a new Slaughtermen's Union. The centre of the movement is said to be Ngahauranga. We are informed that the Crown Law Officers are at present considering the question as to whether such a procedure is possible under the Arbitration Act. Questioned on the point, Mr. Reardon (secretary of the Slaughtermen's Federation) said that before the Registrar could register such another union,, with one already in existence, he would first have to get authority from the Arbitration Court. That y&& estal|lished in the case of the seamen's dispute some years ago. No details of the proposed new union are at present available. In his report, Inspector Seed, of ihe S.P.C.A., stated that complaint had been received that sheep were being slaughtered in a pruel manner by amateurs at Petone. He paid a surprise visit to the slaughtering works there, but could find no trace of cruelty. The; Chairman remarked that he did not attach much importance to the complaint, which. had probably been sent by some person wishing to do the amateurs harm.