FARMERS AND FREEZERS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2164, 1 July 1922, Page 5

FARMERS AND FREEZERS.

COMPANIES' ACTION SUPPORTED BY TIMARU UNION. (Per Preaa Association.) TIMARU, Last Night. The executive of the Tlmaru branch of the Farmers' Union held a special meeting to-day to consider the attitude of the Union towards the situation at the freezing works. The chairman, Mr J. Trotter, pointed out the importance of the matter to producers, and hoped the companies would get the labour they required, A suggestion to sit in committee was negatived. Mr Trotter said the chairman of one company had told him nothing had been done yet in South Canterbury, as they were hoping the men would resume. They were, however, going to start with free labour next Monday. Mr G. Steven argued that the Union should be strictly neutral and blamed both the men and the companies, the former for knocking off as they did, and the latter for giving occasion for the trouble when there was only two or three weeks' more work to do. The chairman combatted this view. Their interest, he said, was too seriously involved to allow them to be neutral. Others agreed with Mr Steven, but agreed that the companies could not go back then. The meeting went into committee to consider a confidential communication regarding what the companies proposed to do. On resuming in open meeting, a resolution was adopted, "that this executive heartily supports the freezing companies in their endeavour to have the farmers' stock killed."