FREEZING DEADLOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19490, 20 November 1926, Page 12

FREEZING DEADLOCK.

AUCKLAND NOW AFFECTED, THE WORKS AT WESTFIELD. NO RESPONSE BY MEN. ATTITUDE OF THE COMPANIES. The trouble that arose in the Hawke's Bay district at the opening of the new killing season between slaughtermen and the freezing companies and which led to the companies employing free labour in the works, is likely to spread to Auck land. Some effect of it has already been felt. Work on export stock was offered to slaughtermen at the West field Freezing Company's works yesterday morning, the men having been notified beforehand, bat no response was forthcoming. Subsequently a statement was issued by the representatives of the Westfield Freezing Company and the Auckland banners' Freezing Company that it was evident that the slaughtermen who usually handle the stock at the two local freezing works intended to fall into line with the slaughtermen m Hawke's Bay, who had refused to deal with export stock at the beginning of the new season. In the circumstances the local companies would be compelled to take steps to pro vide other labour for the treatment of the export stock now beginning to be available and which must be treated when ready. . The statement concluded with the remark that it was in the interest of all sections of the community that no further set-back in the export trade of the Dominion should be allowed. The refusal of the men to start work is the outcome of a meeting held a few days ago of members of the local Slaughtermen's Union, when the freezing workers' dispute in Hawke's Bay was considered. It was then decided to abide by any instructions issued by the Freezing Workers' Federation or by the Alliance of Labour. The fact that instructions have been issued, and their nature, can be gauged by the action of the men in refusing to start work. The local freezing companies have no desire to precipitate a crisis in the industry and it is understood that no definite action will be taken by them to engage free labour until the influx of stock renders the position acute. At present the quantity of export stock is not great and operations at the works for the new season can be deferred to allow further negotiations between the parties to be entered into. The serious nature of the position is indicated by the fact that in the event of the trouble developing and a strike being declared more than 300 men at present engaged- in the industry in the Auckland district would be involved. Later on this number would be swelled to approximately 700, that being about the total number of men engaged afc the various works during the peak of the season. TEE POSITION AT IMLAY.

OTHER LABOUR OBTAINABLE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WANGANUI. Friday. A good deal of speculation exists as to what is going to occur at the Refrigerating Company's freezing works at Iralay when killing operations for the season are scheduled to take place. It is quite on the cards, however, that unless the Hawke's Bay trouble is ended and this desired consummation is. not in sight just yet, the boards will not be manned by regular slaughtermen. The demand for an increase of 10 per cent, on the present rate/ of pay is to be refused. So far as is known the permanent union hands at Imlay, who have been working : all through the winter, have received no instructions from the union. Mr. H. E. Zeisler, manager of the Imlay Works, says that if the men do not turn to on : Tuesday morning the company is quite ! prepared to open on Wednesday or ; Thursday without them. i When it was first known that i trouble might be expected the companies •>, undertook the organisation of volunteer reserves, which have already stepped into i the breach in Hawke's Bay, and will do i the same if necessary at Wanganui next j week. 1 Reports fr.om Napier and Feilding state that at Tomoana and Aorangi the per- j manent freezing works hands have been ] called out in a sympathetic strike. .

I. MEN'S ACTION ENDORSED. MEETING AT WELLINGTON. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Friday. At a combined meeting of employees of the Gear Meat Company and of the Wellington Export Company, held at Petone, a resolution was carried endorsing* the action of the Hawke's Bay men in the freezing workers' dispute. The question was discussed at some length and the resolution supporting the Hawke's Bay men was carried by a substantial majority, Mr. A. McLeod, secretary o! the Wellington District Freezing Workers' Union, stated to-day that the freezing workers at Patea, fmlay, Castjecliff, Feilding and Longburn had also endorsed the attitude of the Hawke's Bay men. THE CUSTOMS TARIFF. REVISION NEXT SESSION. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Friday. A preliminary announcement relating to the promised revision of the customs duties is gazetted. The notice states that it ia proposed to revise the tariff at the nest session of Parliament, and draws the attention of those interested to the provisions of section 130 of the Customs Act, 1913, as amended in 1921.