THE RECENT STRIKES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13456, 8 April 1907, Page 6

THE RECENT STRIKES.

MINISTER, FOR LABOUR'S

POSITION.

AUSTRALIANS' ACTION

[BT TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION*.]

Chhistchokch, Saturday. The Minister for Labour (the Hon. J. A. Millar) does not feel inclined to recede from the position lie has taken up in regard to the part played by Australians in the recent'slaughtermen's dispute, in spite of the heavy condemnation launched against him by the Trades Council Conference in Dunedin. Shaking to a reporter this morning, ho said he had nothing much to add to what he hud stated in Dunedin, "but I still maintain that Australians were there." he said. "As soon as we heard of the strike in Wellington in the morning, the inspector was sent out. Ho interviewed the men and pointed out the position to them, and advised them to go on with their wo-k. They refused. They told him that they had struck in Victoria last year, and had gained a rise; that they had struck in New South Wales and had gained a rise, and that they would have it here; that they did not care a.bout our laws, or for the Arbitration Court, as they would be in Australia before the Court could reach them.

"I had reliable information when I made the statement that two or three Australian*. were amongst, the leaders at Smithtield ; also, I have been informed since, mi what 1 believe to be reliable authority, that it w a.? part of the agreement with the freezing companies that they .should be able to work on even terms with the New Zealand companies. In these circumstances I maintain that both Dr. Fmdlay ami myself were justified iii observing that tin 1 Australians were, at the bottom of the trouble.

"As far as I am personally concerned, 1 bad done with tin mat tor after the law was upheld, and 1 would have said no more on the subject but for the resolution passed by the conference. I may add, however, that a peculiar tiling, which strengthens my opinion, has been brought under my notice. 'Ihrce men who were horn and brought up in the vicinity of Dunedin, who were taught their trade, as slaughtermen at the Burnside works, and who are admitted to be first-class men. were sent up by the company from Burnside to Smith fie Id to meet the requirements for more butchers at the latter place. When these Southern butchers arrived the men at the SmitbnVld works absolutely lefused to work with them, on the grounds that they went back to work too 50011, thereby helping to defeat the men's demands. The butchers had to return to Dunedin. Thev did not start work, at Smithfield at all.'"

Mr. Millar was asked if ho thought that the slaughtermen's strikes in the meat freezing centres of the colony had affected the principle of the Arbitration Act. "No,'' he said. "The principle baa not. suffered, as far as my experience goes, and I have met many of the leading trades unionists in the colony. '1 here is almost a unanimous consensus of opinion that the Act is a. good one. The unionists have no desire whatever to see anything done that would in any way injure it. The complaint throughout the length and breadth of the colony is that, owing to the inability of the Court to deal promptly with disputes, a. great deal of unnecessary friction lias arisen, and a. feeling has grown up that the usefulness of the Court is impaired to such an extent as to be of little service to the unions. That is the only complaint 1 hear at the present time. It is admitted by everybody that something will have to be done to provide greater facilities for disputes being settled as soon as practicable after they arise."