FREEZING INDUSTRY DISPUTE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 5 October 1928, Page 10

FREEZING INDUSTRY DISPUTE.

MANY POINTS CLEARED UP. CBy Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Oct. 4. When the Arbitration Court resumed in the afternoon Mr. Justice Frazer complimented the parties oil having settled so many of the disputed points in the freezing industry dispute. Mr. Sill for the unions and Mr. Sanderson for the employers had reported to the court the progress made. The court thought it was satisfactory, and was glad to find so many of the issues had been deleted and only the essentials remained. In reply to Air. Sill, Alfred Sutor, superintendent of the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Companyworks, said the hobby calf industry was not a payable proposition last year. For that reason the price for honing was reduced from 7d to 6d. They also wished to bring boners into line with slaughtermen. , . The matter of ram lambs was raised by Mr. Sill, who said it was agreed they were something of a nuisance. Ram lambs now came forward in such numbers that slaughtermen were entitled to higher wages for the extra work involved in killing and dressing. Now that the hobby veal industry* had passed through the experimental stage ancl was well established and prosperous, the slaughtermen were entitled to consideai-tion, said Mr. Sill, especially as they had agreed to a reduction when the industry was struggling. , During the 1926-27 season a total of 115,090 of these calves was slaughtered. Tl’o total this year during August was 177.000. and by the end of the season it was probable the increase on last year’s total would be more than 100 per cent. Further proof of the piosperitv of the industry was that while 3s'or 4s used to lie given for calves, now 10s or even more was given. To remove all doubt as to the age or the calf the unions suggested classification should he by weight. They contended- no overtime should he less than time and a half and for chamber hands it should be double time. Evidence was given at considerable length in support of the unions’ contention. Air. Sanderson pointed out the union was asking double rates-, or 75s a hundred, for ram lambs, as against 40s for ordinary heavy sheep. Everything was being done to reduce the number of ram lambs being sent in for slaughter. The employers earnestly desired that the award should expire on June 30 and that its term should he two years. Air. Sill asked that the award should expire in October as being most suitable to the union, and that it '•Mild be for 12 months only. This closed the case.