BUTCHERS’ STRIKE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16491, 5 March 1914, Page 7

BUTCHERS’ STRIKE.

MASTERS REJECT GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS.

NEGOTIATIONS ENDED

SHOPS TO BE RE-OPENED,

By Telegraph— Press Association—Copyright, SYDNEY, March 4.

Tho master butchers have formally informed the Holman Government that its terms for a settlement are not acceptable to them, and that all negotiations are off at present as far as they are concerned.

They also state that they desire to discontinue the depots system from tomorrow, and revert to ordinary conditions, opening all shops for employers’ business.

It is estimated tjiat 80 per cent of the shops will be selling to-morrow, and the balance in a few days.

The employers will do their own killing and carting. Employees are invited to apply for reinstatement on terms to bo disclosed on application. DISCUSSION IN ASSEMBLY.

THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTIONS In the Assembly, Mr C. G. Pater, of the Opposition, made a strong appeal to the Government to uphold the Arbitration Act, even to the point of prosecuting strikers who were flouting the law. It was the Ministry’s duty to see that the food supply was maintained in the public interests. The result of the Ministry’s inaction and the hollow cry of nationalisation was encouraging the men to break the law, and then, when the employers were helpless, they wore told that their businesses would be seized, thus going back to the old bushranging days. Mr Holman, in reply, said that the Government had 6Worn to uphold the law, and if need arose would do it. Happily no such question had yet arisen, and he did not anticipate that it would. Up till yesterday the Government had fair ground for believing that a settlement would bo reached. Apparently to-day they were confronted with the necessity for doing something to restore the supply of an absolutely necessary commodity. If that were so, they would face the position immediately, and take whatever steps were necessary in the supreme interests of the community. If the information as to breaches of the law were forthcoming, prosecutions would follow. If the masters got the men the Government would protect them. • . A TRUMP CARD. MODIFIED NATIONALISATION.. SYDNEY, March 4. The “ Herald ” states that it has ascertained unofficially that the Government’s trump card in the event of the strike continuing is to engage in a modified form of nationalisation, not to nationalise the whole industry, but to provide killers and killing facilities, and sale depots for those prepared to undertake the sale and distribution of meat. A mass meeting of the meat industry employees decided to continue the strike on its present lines. END BELIEVED TO BE IN VIEW. DIVISION IN RANKS OF RETAIL BUTCHERS. MEN NOT AFRAID OF NON-UNION LABOUR. (Received March 4, 8.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, March 4. It is confidently believed in Ministerial circles that the end of the butchers’ strike is in view. Messrs Holman and Estell further discussed the position with the employers to-day, putting before them a proposal slightly less favourable. Meanwhile the employees have called a mass meeting for to-morrow morning in anticipation of a fresh offer from some of the retail butchers, which indicates a breaking away from the Allied Trades Committee.

So far no labour is offering at the city shops, Unionists expressing an opinion that an attempt to run the shops with non-union labour will fail. All the competent men are Unionists. The public already 'have tired of the kind of meat sold at the depots.