The Dominion.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IX, Issue 79, 18 March 1919, Page 5

The Dominion.

COMING HOME. NINE THAN SPORTS AT SKA. Wellington, Marell 18. No less than nine big steamers carrying over 8,000 New Zealand soldiers aie now on their way back. With two exceptions all the vesse.s are due to arrive between 12th. and 24th. April. SOLDIERS’ GRATUITIES. Wellington, March 18. The "Minister of Defence stated today that it would be two or three days yet before he could be able th make an announcement regarding soldiers’ gratuities. He said he has just received particulars of th-, Canadian scheme. DEPENDENTS OF SAILORS. Wellington, March 18. Cabinet decided to-day to promote special legislation to enable Harbour Boards to make grants of £5OO to a fund being raised for depen dents of men of the mercantile marine. LABOUR AFFAIRS. TROUBLE AT THE WHAKATU WORKS. During the shortage in supply of slaughtermen throughout New Zealand at the present period, wages in excess of the rates under the current agreement are being offered by some freezing companies who have been unable to fill their slaughter boards. Last week a representative of the Westfield Freezing Works visited Hastings and made offers to the union officials of wages and conditions considerably in advance of those current, in Hawke’s Bay.

.The slaughtermen at .Whakatu asked the manager for increased wages, but as a conference, between all* the freezing companies and the Workers Federation is to be held in Wellington very shortly, to arrange the rates and conditions for the Dominion agreement in the freezing industry, the manager declined, pending the. decision of this conference, to depart from the rates and conditions of the present agreement.

As a result, the slaughtermen decided to “go slow” killing eight sheep per hour instead of at least 12 and five men left the company’s employ on Saturday. Unless a .settlement is arrived at it is practically eeitain that more slaughtermen will leave to obtain lhe better wages offering elsewhere. The other works are still carrying on at the agreement rate of wages, but the mon are naturally uneasy, and are only waiting developments. . The threatened dislocation of the industry at the present time would be, a serious thing for the district, a s owing to the comparatively small amount of freight space allotted to Hawke’s Bay this season the works have so far been able t" deal with only a proportion of the fat stock of the district, the stores being congested with last season s meat. . Should work cease or be reduced :it the meat factories, a large number of men in Other departments than that of the actual slaughtering will be thrown out of employmentIt is to be hoped for the welfare ot everyone, that -the threatened trouble will shortly be satisfactorily settled.

THE HORORATA’S DRAFT. WF.L( GM ED AT NAPIER. The Hororata's draft of returning soldwrs including several Mam Bod\ men. arrived in Napier last night. The reception 1 hey were accorded will be long remembered. Long before the time of arrival a huge crowd had assembled at the station which was gay with bunting. When the train pulled up, deafening cheering rent the air, whistles sounded and motor horns blew, whilst the Regimental Band struck up appropriate airs. His Worship the Mavor (Mr. Henry Hill), the Deputy-Mayor (Mr. P. Ashchoft), and the Mayor of Gisborne, Mr. W . G. Sherratt, who was present specially, to welcome the East Coast men; delivered addresses of welcome. The enthusiasm shown almost equalled the occasion when the Armistice was signed. After the ‘•welcome home” ceremony the returned heroes entered cars placed at their disposal by private citizens and a procession was then formed, headed by the Regjniental Band and cadets. Some hundreds of motor cars, manv gaily decorated, followed. and the procession vended its way up Emerson street into Hastings street, and thence back through Tennyson street to the Provincial Hotel, where the returned men were entertained at dinner. The route of march was thronged with people who cheered lustily as the procession passed. In the evening the Citizen’s Committee entertained the men at .St. Patrick’s Concert, in the Municipal Theatre. AT HASTINGS. An unusually large gathering of the public assembled at the Hastings Railway Station last night, to meet the Hastings members of the Main Body, who returned with the Hororata’s draft. The Mayor (Mr. H. lan Simson) cordially.greeted the boys on behalf of the citizens, telling them people recognised their devoted heroism, which carried them through the horrors of this terrible war from the commencemet.t to practically the end. Arrangements were ‘ being made to

f entertain them, and all returned ! soldiers, at a ball next Tuesday and, later, the Main Body men would be the. guests of the citizens at a social gathering. The Hastings Band played patriotic selections and, before the lads were conveyed to their homes in motor cars, they were given three hearty cheers, at the call of the Mayor. AUCKLAND DRAFT WELCOMED. The Hororata reached Auckland yesterday afternoon. The Auckland draft aboard was given a rousing reception. The next-of-kin met the steamer in the. ferry boat and a sea plane dropped a message of welcome aboard. Crowds lined the waterfront and a salute was fired from the forts.