BUTCHERS "GO-SLOW” FOR FEEDING FARMERS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3247, 18 January 1926, Page 8

BUTCHERS "GO-SLOW” FOR FEEDING FARMERS

Four Sheep an HourMen’s Retort la Company PROPRIETARY CONCERNS NOT YET AFFCTED—WHYt The butchers at the FeUdinf Farmers' freezing works introduced the “go-slow” policy on Saturday morning as a result of the refusal of the Company to pay the men the Increased rates asked for. i Early last week, the men, as a result of a meeting held on previous Sunday, resolved to ask for an increase of 2/6 a hundred and also increased rates for day labourers. The Company considered the matter on Friday afternoon and refused the men’s demands. On Saturday morning the men reduced their killing rate to four sheep an hour and so the freezing Industry in this district has received a severe blow.

In these days of Intense competition among the buyers such a hold-up must mean a serious loss to the company, and it is rather peculiar that the trouble should develop at Aoran. gi, while some of the proprietary concerns are belli operating at capacity rates. It is known that the unaffected works are expecting the but whilst the butchers are killing at capacity lambs and sheep are being rushed forward. Although the bulk of the local lambs have been disposed of draft* from the higher country should be coming forward now and it is to bb hoped that early steps will be taken to bring about a settlement of this form of irritation strike. It is no good to the butchers, not good to the Company, and no good to the country as a whole. Competition In the freezing Indus* try Is altogether too great and keen to warrant a prolonged hold up of thU nature. Mr Oobbe’s Statement Mr J. O. Cobbe, chairman of direo* tors of the company stated that h« had spent the greater part of twa hours with the men, but had not been able to Induce them to alter their attitude. Mr Cobbe stated that. If the men’s demands were acceded to, the increase In the killing rates would amount to over £4OOO, Or more than twice the profit the company made lasi season.

Mr Cobbe further stated that no more lambs were being accepted by the company and Instructions to that effect were s being issued, to their clients immediately. For those sheep* that the company has on hand for slaughtering there Is, fortunately* plenty of grazing available. It is anticipated that the company will, in conformity with the practice adopted elsewhere, issue next week only four sheep per man per hour, this action is absolutely necessary to provide for the smooth running,of the works and to avoid congestion in the other departments, should the butchers suddenly decide to work at the normal rate. Mr Cobbe stated that he wa* pleased to be able to say that the labourers employed at the works were not In. sympathy , with the attitude taken up by the butchers, but on the contrary hey were unanimous In supporting the company in the matter, Most of the labourers concerned are married men, permanently residing in Feeding, and the loss of employment consequent on the actloh of the butchers will ba seriously felt by them. The Butchers’ Reply. Mr J. P. Quaenan, slaughterman** delegate at the Aorangi works, ha« forwarded to the “Times" the following reply to Mr Cobbe’s statement;— "The figures Ipiven by Mr Cobbe ae to the cost of the FeiMlng Freezing Company of the Increase asked by the slaughtermen admit of some correction. _ Estimating the number of sheep’ and lambs expected to be put through as 250,00, the Increase of 2/6 per 100 on this sumber amounts to £312 10/-. No department other than the slaughtermen has demanded an increase, therefore these figures £312 10/-, represent the maximum cost to the company. The Increase actually works out at three-tenths of a penny per lamb or sheep, which Is an inflnltessinial amount per lb. "These works have given in previous years a bonus to slaughtermen varying from 17 to 10. The bonuses were given voluntarily and compare favourably, with the slaughtermen's present demands. There are thirtysix butchers engaged at Aorangi. “The Auckland district Is paying the increases, in addition to railway fares to Morewa, North Auckland. A £lO bonus is also added. Therefore it will be seen that the Pe tiding men’s demands do not exceed what Is already being paid voluntarily in other districts, and that Mr. Cobbe’s estimate of £4OOO as being the cost of our demands is far above the correct figures, which are £312 10/- on the proposed killings for the present year.”