SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9302, 8 March 1907, Page 5

SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE

CONFERENCE AT CHRISTCHURCH

FADLS.

MEN REFUSE ARBITRATION BY

THE COURT.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION.!

CHRISTCHURCH, March 7.

A conference between delegates representing the men and the two Meat Companies produced no .result. The men state they will not return to work until *h!e increased rates aTe granted. The companies wish the matter to oe referred to the Arbitration Court.

The mew wam/fc a settlement by agreement, which later would be ratified by the Court. Hence the deadlock.

The compainies expressed complete readiJi'ass to discuss the men's demands, , provided any matter upon which it might be found impossible to agree should be submitted to tihe derision of the Arbitration Couirt. That, ihowev€T, was nuet by a unanimous declaration by both the executive of the Union and the delegates present that they should individually and on behalf of the bodies whom they represented decline absolutely to submit in any way to the decision of the Arbitration Court. "It was felt by the represeaifcatives of -the freezing companies," Mr Murray stated , "that further discussion was useless under such circumstances, and the conference therefore terminated. The real point at issue is whether disputes between employer and the employed should be settled by the method of striking, as at present aittisanpited, or by the system of arbitration provided for by the Act. No settlement could be other than/ futile, unless disputed points should oe mutually referred -to the proper tribunal established for that purpose. The companies still adhere to the offer made last week that if the men return te work they shall be paid retrospectively from the date of re-staort-inig work any rate of pay awarded by the Court." The mem are as one in the statemtemt that nothing will content them but the rate of 25s a hundred for freezero, which they have been demanding since ■the tfroubJe began. The extra money will b? more necessary tihan ever now, they staite, on, account of the fines inflicted by the Court.'