POSITION AT HOROTIU

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21315, 17 October 1932, Page 8

POSITION AT HOROTIU

DEMAND FOR OLD RATES MEAT FOR HAMILTON FOREMEN TO KILL STOCK [fbom our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Sunday About 250 men, including 35 butchers, employed at the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company's Horotiu works decided yesterday not to accept the new scale of payment •which the employers have notified and which will come into force to-morrow. When operations were completed yesterday afternoon, all the men affected were paid. It is unlikely that any work will be done to-morrow. After the new terms were, posted in the works yesterday a meeting of the employees was held and representatives of the men in all departments expressed the opinion that the reductions were excessive and unacceptable. A decision to cease work unless the old rates were guaranteed for a prolonged period was then made. The cessation of killing at Horotiu is likely to have serious and widespread consequences. All the meat consumed in Hamilton is killed at Horotiu, and the stock dealt with weekly for this purpose averages 110 head of cattle, 400 sheep and 40 pigs. The requirements of the district extending northward to Huntly, inclusive, are also supplied from the works. Retailers' Extra Supplies In anticipation of trouble many of the Hamilton retailers had sufficient extra stock put through yesterday to carry them on for a few days. Some have sufficient meat in cool storage to last until Thursday. The manager of the works, Mr. R. Spiers, stated to-day that the company's permanent staff of foremen would be called upon to do the necessary killing for the Hamilton supply, and that although there might be inconveniences the company would see that the town did not go short. The trouble, if continued, will mean the cutting short of the "bobby calf trade. Last month about 26,000 calves were dealt with at the works, while for the first fortnight of this month the number reached 10,000. On two days last week the numbers were 1400 and 900 respectively. Although fewer calves are now being dealt with as the dairying season advances, the number yet to be received is still considerable. Unless killing is re sumed this week the farmers and those buying calves from them will suffer heavy losses, in spite of the low prices that are ruling. Opening of Lamb Season Tile cessation of operations coincides with the opening of the lamb season in the district. Last year 30,000 lambs were killed at Horotiu for the export trade. Speaking of the men's attitude to the new terms, one of them, a chamber hand, said that last season, on a nominal wage of £4 4s a week, he had averaged not more than £2 15s, owing to short time and interruptions. Practically all the men were similarly affected. The butchers were paid at a good rate, but with short time their earnings were not high. The view that the freezing workers should consider the losses suffered by the producers was expressed by Mr. S. C. G. Lye, managing director of the Waikato and Thames Valley Calf By-products Company. Many farmers found their returns drastically reduced. The killing rates for bobby calves were the same as they had been two years ago, but calves were worth Is 6d to the farmer, compared with 10s. Lamb was quoted in London from s£d a pound, and was returning the producers 3£d to 4d. The men should realise that the industry could not continue to pay the old rates and compete with other countries. ALL UNIONS AFFECTED REPORT FROM HASTINGS [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] HASTINGS, Sunday According to the local secretary of the Freezing Workers' Union members throughout the North Island decline to work under the employers' proposals announced to come into operation to-mor-row. Similarly South Island unionists refuse to work after November 1, the date fixed for the new conditions to come into force there. Mr. McLeod, Dominion secretary, attended a meeting here to-day and later left for Wellington. WORKERS AT MASTERTON FEDERATION'S DECISION AWAITED [by TELEGRAPH —rRESS association] MASTERTON, Sunday A meeting of local freezing workers today decided not to accept work on the new conditions offered by the companies until advice has been received of the decision of the national executive of the Freezing Workers Federation. Only a few men are likely to be needed at the local works for some weeks yet.