THE SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13464, 17 April 1907, Page 8

THE SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE

CRITICISM OF THE ARBITRATION . . ACT. [BY TELEGRAPH. — MSESS ASSOCIATION'.] Wellington", Tuesday. Replying to a presentation to-day, Mr. A. H. Cooper, president of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council, and secretary to the Slaughtermen's Union, referred to the recent .strike. He said, as a good many hard things had been said about tlio mem who had been responsible for the trouble at Pefcone and Ngohauranga, and tor the subsequent strikes throughout the colony, tie considered it would not be out of place to refer to this matter. The reason for the strikes was entirely due to the faulty and defective machinery of the Conciliation arid Arbitration Act for settling industrial disputes. Trades unions, counoils, and cont'ereaices had been patient, and had used every legitimate means by resolution, by letter, and by deputation to impress on the Government the necessity of providing a reasonably expeditious method of settling disputes. Labour organisations had been very patient, and very forbearing towards the Act. They had approached the late Premier, and the present Premier, also thfl Hon. W. Hall-Jones and the Hon. J. A. Millar, but it appeared that notwithstanding these peaceful and constitutional methods it required the slaughtermen to bring the Government to a sense of responsibility. In regard to the Act, it was not until the slaughter men took action that the Ministers of the Crown admitted on the pubic platform that there was a necessity for alteration in tho Act. Though there had been a breach of the Act, the slaughtermen of New Zealand, and the Wellington Union in particular, which was responsible for tho trouble, had done more good in a short week than all trades unions' councils and conferences had accomplished during the past six years. He was satisfied that before this year was out all the workers of the colony would realise tint fact, and would be prepared to thank the slaughtermen for the result of the stand they had taken. Mr. Cooper reiterated lib contention that New Zealanders, and not Australians, were responsible for the strike. He contradicted the statement of the Hon. J. A. Millar, and said he was collecting evidence in Australia and New Zealand, and hoped to be ready with this in a fortnight to finally refute the statement of the Minister for Labour. "I* appears even now," concluded Mr. Cooper, " that some of the men were not satisfied, but he felt sure that the bulk of them were contented. The decision arrived at had not only brought substantial improvements on old condition s , but had been the wisest and safest thing to do. He was looking for the complete federation of the slaughtermen of New Zealand, and he believed this was within measurable distance."