THE SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE.

Northern Advocate, 8 February 1913, Page 5

THE SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE.

A most interesting development in the slaughtermen's dispute is the applications of three big unions con-

•cerned (including Canterbury) for re-

gistration under the Arbitration Act. The move is a " slim" one, designed

to protect the men on strike against the formation of what are termed

"scab unions," and a consequent struggling on the lines of the Waihi ■strike. Meanwhile the position of the

contending parties is unchanged. The 'Companies are reported to have had a certain response to their application' for free labour, bat have not yet fixed a date for restarting their work. The

slaughtermen still maintain that no

experts will offer themselves, and that , learners available will be incompetent to do anything like satisfactory work, and will be unable to break the back of the strike. The companies, on the other hand, are said to welcome a stoppage of a week or two. and have not been inconvenienced so far. The attitude of the waterside workers toward new unions will have an important bearing on the struggle between the men and the companies. The two unions are now affiliated to one another, but it is confidently asserted that, if free labour is put on the work, the stevedores will refuse to handle the meat. The matter has been before the waterside workers, and has been referred to the executive of the Federation of Labour for pronouncement.