THE STRIKE OF BUTCHERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17328, 27 November 1919, Page 6

THE STRIKE OF BUTCHERS.

ACTION ON WATERFRONT. CANNED MEAT NOT HANDLED. ISLANDS CONSIGNMENTS. SAMOAN TROOPS' SUPPLIES. UNION DISCLAIMS KNOWLEDGE. Another development in connection with the butchers' strike was the abstention of the waterside workers from loading a quantity of canned meat which the Auckland Meat Company and R. and W. Hellaby, Ltd., were proposing to ship to the Pacific Islands by the steamers Talune and Flora. A small quantity was placed aboard the vessels on Tuesday afternoon, but from yesterday morning the waterside workers, while still handling all the other cargo, sedulously passed by the case and kegs containing meat. On the part of the union it is stated that the ignoring of this class of goods hag no official recognition by the organisation, but it is purely and simply the individual decision of the men employed in cargo-handling. The movement is said to be due to the personal sympathy of waterside workers with the striking butchers. Christmas Stocks Involved. One effect of the non-despatch of supplies, in case no arrangement tor their shipment is made before the Talune 6ails today, will be that tile garrison of New Zealand soldiers at Samoa, who depend largely upon preserved meat, must necessarily be placed on short commons. This week's steamers are those that should carry the military supplies for the Christma,; period, it is estimated that about 600 cases and 100 keg s of meat were left on the wharf last night when the Flora sailed for the Eastern Pacific islands.

An urgent telegram was despatched yesterday by the president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Mr. M. M. McCallum, to the Prime Minister, as follow.*:—"Waterside workers have refused to load tinned meats for the Islands on account of the butchers' strike. Steamer timed to leave to-morrow morning, and if the meat is shut out will create a shortage in the Islands, as no other steamer leaving before Christmas. Strongly urge Government use their influence with the watersiders to withdraw this embargo, as Island trade should be fostered, not alienated, from New Zealand, apart altogether from the injustice of penalising the Islands because of a locf'J dispute. Trust you will recognise this matter demands immediate and vigorous attention."

Mr. McCallum received a reply last evening from Mr. W. F. Massey, who is Minister for Labour as well as Prime Minister, intimating that he had instructed the secretary for the Labour De,partment to do everything possible to have the cargo loaded. Mr. T. Harle Giles, conciliation commissioner, also received from the Secretary for Labour a telegraphic request to use his best efforts to brine about the loading of the goods. At the time the telegram reached Mr. Giles the Flora was about to c;«t off her moorings for the voyage to the Eastern Pacific. Mr. Giles will, however, proceed at ap early hour this morning to apply conciliatory methods in the endeavour to secure a settlement of the waterside phase of the trouble. Islands Residents Penalised. It was pointed out last evening by a city business man that the blocking of the meat cargo will injure nobody in ..in id, i11...-much iv the goods will keep for any length of time without deterioration. The only persons who would be penalised, it was added, were the unfortunate soldiers at Samoa and civil residents in distant islands, whose sufferings would not in the remotest way help towards a settlement of the butchers' strike ; in Auckland. Further progress towards the "regular resumption of business is reported by the Auckland Meat Company. Another shop that near the Epsom tram-barn was re- | opened yesterday morning, and to-day the company expects to be able to open a second Dominion Road shop and the Wellington Street one. Thi s will leave only five shops with their shutters up. The conference between the representa- ; tives of the Butchers' Union and the Mas. ter Butchers' Association, in the hope of arriving at a settlement of the strike, will b e resumed at two o'clock this afternoon under the presidency of the conciliation commissioner, Mr. T. Harle Giles. Preparatory to this afternoon's discussion a meeting of the Master Butchers' Association was held last evening, the president, Mr. G. F. Lane, being in the chair. After discussion of the questions raised at Monday's sitting before the commissioner a course of action was do"cided upon which will be disclosed when | the conference resumes to-dav.