SERIOUS PROBLEM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 31, 5 January 1945, Page 4

SERIOUS PROBLEM

AT SOUTHLAND WORKS SHORT OF SLAUGHTERMEN (V A ) INVERCARGILL, Jan. 4. V The three Southland freezing works opened today with depleted boards At Ocean Beach there were 54 bufejera. compared with 74 for the fui 1 boanl. At Makarewa there were 49 butuiers compared with a full' board ot : t6 to 80, and at Mataura there were 35 com--pared with a full board of 50. Lambs are coming forward in fairly good condition, but unless the boards are fully manned shortly the works may be m difficulties'because of the .large number of lambs likely to come in tat oil tne € *One of the chief reasons for the shortage of slaughtermen is the delayed shearing. Many slaughtermen ak(shearers, too, and they are held up Several men who were to come from the North Island for the opening ot the season will not be here till about the end at the month. Thougli killings will be restricted in the meantime, it is expected that there will be an, improvement as the month proceeds and more labour is available. . Ju a statement todav the Minister ot Labour (Mr Webb) said a compulsory conference had been called by him in Wellington before the holidays ot representatives of the freezing workers and tho companies, and as tar as ne knew fbe whole question had been amicablv settled. It was agreed then that production would be maintained and that any differences between the men and the companies would be straightened out by conciliation or arbitration. He knew of no friction existing at the present time, and he hoped there would be none, said the Minister. Any ho'id-up of pn»duction would be criminal on the pari of those responsible whether the men or the companies, when the people of Britain M the forefront of battle were in dire need of all the foodstuffs New Zealand couid send. Jde Hoped that whatever differences might exist they would not affect the production of foodstuffs.-