FREEZING WORKS STRIKE.

Grey River Argus, 25 July 1922, Page 3

FREEZING WORKS STRIKE.

A COMPANY’S OFFER. SOLITARY BUTCHER RESUMES HASTINGS, July 24. At Hastings a. few days ago the AVhakatu Freezing AVorks offered to take slaughtermen back this morning for about a months -work to complete the season. Only oue beef butcher turned up. Lt is believed the abstention was due to union influence. There will be a meeting of the Union to-night and more definite information in the morning. In the meantime the waiting cattle are drifting off to the Wellington works. CANTERBURY MEN RETURN. U N lON I STS Tl' R N EI) DOW N. CHRISTCHURCH, July 24. ! Large numbers of unionists offered themselves this morning for employment at the various freezing works in North Canterbury. Some of them said that at a meeting of the freezing work ers on Saturday evening, the strike was declared “off.” However, many of the men found, on presenting themselves this morning, that their places had been taken by free workers. The most of the unionists were ‘‘turned down.” hi any case, it is pointed out, the decision to return had been left rather late. The works at Kaiapoi of the North Canterbury Sheep Farmers’ Cooperative Freezing Company, closed down last week. Two of the other works in North Canterbury are likely to finish the season, so far as slaughtering is concerned within a. few days. It was stated by one company manager that, although experienced slaughtermen are available, there is at present no intention to change the “out' man one cut’’ system, which was introduced to meet the new conditions. His works w«r* already fully manned before this morn ing. MORE UNIONISTS TO BE EMPLOYED. ( HRISTCHI.’RCH, July 2-1. At one of the Canterbury freezing works today, about one hundred men applied for work. Jobs were given to about one half of tho applicants. Some others will be taken on to-mor-row. Amongst the unionists who returned io work to-day was a considerable number of hands in preserving and casing departments. In both those departments, the- men who have returned may expect several months’ employment.