RESTRICTED KILLINGS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21606, 8 January 1945, Page 4

RESTRICTED KILLINGS

SLAUGHTERMEN SHORT SOUTHLAND WORKS The three Southland freezing works opened on Thursday with depleted boards. At Ocean Beach there were 54 butchers compared with 74 for the full board. At Makarewa there worn 49 butchers compared with a full board of 75 to 80. and at Mataura there were 35 compared with a full board of 50. Lambs arc coming forward in fairly good condition, bid unless the boards are fully manned shortly the works may be in difficulties because of the large number of lambs likely to come in fat off the ewes. One of the chief reasons for the shortage of slaughtermen is the delayed shearing. Many slaughtermen are shearers, too. and they are held up. Several men who were to come from the North Island for the opening of the season will not arrive until about the end of the month. Though killings will be restricted in the meantime, it. is expected that there will be an improvement-as the month proceeds and more labour is available.

In a statement, the Minister of Labour. Mr. Webb, said a comoulsorv conference had been called by him in Wellington before the holidays of representatives of the freezing workers and the companies, and as far as lie knew the whole question had been amicably settled. It was agreed then that production would be maintained and that any differences between the men and the companies would be straightened out by conciliation or arbitration.

He knew of no friction existing at the present time, and he hoped there would be none, said the Minister. Any hold-up of production would be criminal on the part of those responsible. whether the men or the companies. when the people of Britain in the forefront of battle were in dire need of all the foodstuffs New Zealand could send. He hoped that whatever differences might exist they would not affect the production of foodstuffs.