FREEZING DEADLOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19495, 26 November 1926, Page 12

FREEZING DEADLOCK.

DEVELOPMENT AT FEILDING.

WITHDRAWING THE DEMANDS. RECOMMENDATION BY MEN. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] FEILDING. Thursday, A full meeting of the Feilding branch of the Freezing Workers' Union, held last night, passed a resolution by 46 votes to 24, that the branch recommends the Hawko's Bay workers that their demand for an increase in wages at the present time is inopportune, and that the strike should be called off. This resolution is to be referred to all branches throughout New Zealand. The local works opened this morning with voluntary labour. It is understood that the union workers will be prepared to begin as soon as the other branches are notified of the above resolution. PICTOH WORKS AFFECTED. ONLY ONE BUTCHER STARTS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] BLENHEIM, Thursday. The Picton freezing works are affected by the freezing dispute. A call was made for labour to-day but only one butcher and ten other workers responded.

However, the work is being earned on. Farmers' organisations are arranging to supply volunteer labour.

OPERATIONS AT GISBORNE.

GOOD WORK BY VOLUNTEERS,

[BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

GISBORNE, Thursday,

There were about sixty butchers on the boards at the two local freezing works this morning. The standard set by the union for applicants for membership is a speed of eight sheep an hour, and yesterday three men qualified at this rate, though they had only had three days' .work on the boards. The staff now engaged is able to handle all the stock forthcoming without trouble.

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON. DEPUTATIONS TO MINISTERS. [BY telegraph.—own correspondent. 3 WELLINGTON. Thursday. An important conference of freezing works' representatives and farmers' organisations was held to-day to discuss the position which has arisen as the outcome of the demands of the Freezing Workers' Federation for increases in rates of pay. The freezing companies' representatives conferred during the morning and were joined in the afternoon by members of various farmers' organisations. Sheepfarmers were present from all parts of the southern portion of the North Island." The conference was of a private nature and no statement was issued to the press. It is understood that representatives of freezing companies waited on the Minister of Labour, Hon. G. J. Anderson, the Minister of Public Works, Hoii. K. S. Williams, and the Post-•master-General, Hon. W. Nosworthy, but nothing was made available for publication. GEAK WORKS TO OPEN. STATEMENT BY COMPANY. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] WELLINGTON. Thursday. The Gear Meat Preserving and Freezing Company announces that its works will be open on Tuesday next for the slaughter of fat stock for export. NO CHANGE IN AUCKLAND. ISSUE NOT BEING FORCED. The position in connection with the slaughtermen's dispute in Auckland remains unchanged. The men at the various freezing works are carrying on the usual operations. This apparently is in accordance with the instructions issued by the Federation of Slaughtermen's Unions in Wellington. Meanwhile the local freezing companies are taking no action to force the issue in the hope that a settlement of the trouble may be reached. No call for labour on export stock has been made this week but unless a definite position is reached within the next few days the companies \yill be compelled to take action in their own interests and those of the producers.