SLAUGHTERMEN MEET IN CHRISTCHURCH

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 49, 27 February 1913, Page 8

SLAUGHTERMEN MEET IN CHRISTCHURCH

UNDERSTOOD THAT STRIKE WILL BE ABANDONED. * (*T tfELEGftAFH— PRESS ASSOCIATION;) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The Slaughtermen's Union held a full meeting yesterday afternoon, • but the reporters were informed that there was absolutely nothing for publication. Evidently, however, the result of the meeting was communicated to other centres, and to-day unionists were pressed to state whether or not it had been decided to return to work. It is now stated that the union has agreed to abandon the strike and has left members free to apply for work. The position taken up by the companies is that the strikers will be employed as opportunity offers. This is interpreted to mean that free labourers who are expert will be retained, that the inexpert will be found employment in other departments at the factories, and that the bulk of the strikers will be taken back. The companies will be able to bar unionists who took a leading part in promoting the strike. As is reported in the above message, the Canterbury^ butchers,- after their meeting yesterday, have decided to go back to work at 27s 6d per hundred, and under the old conditions— one of the chief of which is that there shall be the proportion of one learner to every eight slaughtermen. Private information received in Wellington to-day states that there is going to be a big rush for hooks, and suggests that many will be- left lamenting. A meeting of the Wellington district slaughtermen will be held at the 1 Trades Hall this evening. It is hot possible to forecast definitely what will be the outcome, but reports from the country indicate that the North Islanders will take some persuading to return ta work. Of course, it is pointed out by the local companies that they have practically filled their boards with "free" labour, and it is said that there will b» but few hooks available in case of » return of the, old slaughtermen under the old conditiohs. But some of the country sheds, probably, will absorb a good number. In addition to the offer of an extra 2s 6d, another factor in the breakaway of tho Canterbury men, is the fact that a large number of killers, especially around Belfast and Islington, have established themselves and families on small farms and holdings. Yesterday afternoon at "smoke-o/' seven unionists at Longburn quietly cut off their leggings and finished up at that shed. This leaves but a half-dozen nonunionists operating at the board. The Crown La n Officers, aftef considerable deliberation, have decided that the strikers are "workers" within the meaning of the Act, and that they are entitled to registration as a nnion. This applies more particularly to the somewhat belated applications for re-i'egistra-tion from Otago and • Southland, as the Registrar had already granted the same application in tho cases of Canterbuiy, Wellington, and Poverty Bay unions. The fact of the visa being on strike did notj it was decided, affect the question at issue. In regard to the formation of a new nnion .it Ngahauranga, Mr. J. M. Reardon (secretary of tho Wellington Slaugh. termen's Union) complains that the new union was formed a fortnight ago, and that the Registrar of Awards had not, as provided by tho Act, notified him of such application. Mr. Reardort states that some two weeks ago unionist slaughtermen applying at Ngahauranga. as learners, for hooks, had tho question of a new union put before them, and were requested to join. Air. Rcardon quotes section 11, subsection (a) of the Arbitration Act, which deals with "provisions to prevent multiplicity of unions." The section, reads :

"In order to prevent tho nccdlres multiplication of industrial unions connected with tho Gamo industry in the came h)CAlity or industrial district, tho following eperial provision shall apply :— (n) The Regietriir may refu<se to register an industrial union in any case when he i< of opinion that in the same locality or industrial district, and connected with tho eamo industry, there exists an industrial union to which the membete of ouch industrial union might conveniently belong. — Provided that the Registrar shall forthwith notify such registered in dufttrial union that an application for registration has been made. The Court (H is added) may direct the Regietrnr to grant euch an application "provided it shall lie on the industrial union to satisfy it (the Court) that, owing to distance, diversity of interest, or other substantial reason, it will be more convenient for the members to register separately than to join any existing ' industrial union." Approached on the matter, Mr. Rowley (the Registrar) stated that ho intended to notify tho union secretary to-day. It is understood that the application of tho new union for registration has been refused, and that an appeal (as the Act provides) may be lodged.