FARMERS LOAD MEAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21349, 25 November 1932, Page 12

FARMERS LOAD MEAT

VESSEL AT GISBOHNE

NO CALL FOR UNION LABOUR

MUTTON ON PORT DUNEDIN

[P.Y TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT | GISBORNE. Thursday

No call was made this afternoon for union labour to load meat into the motorship Port Duncdit), the work being undertaken by a party of more than 30 farmers and farmers' sons, who responded to a call sent out by farmers' organisations. The intimation understood to have been given on the morning of tlie I'ort Dunedin's arrival at Gisborne, to the effect that the union watcrsiders would load butter and wool, but not meat, was considered sufficient warrant for taking the course of calling for farmer labour.

When the volunteer labour took charge of tho lighters this afternoon there was some expectation of a demonstration on the part of unionists. However, the latter took little heed of the party of country workers as it filed out of the freezing works yard to the wharf. There was a mild cheer in sarcastic vein from the berths where the Margaret W., Waiinea and Pukeko were being worked in tho ordinary way. No further notice was given to the farmers and tho loading of tho meat lighters proceeded. It was the intention of the shipping agency to load 2200 freight carcases of mutton from the Kaiti works for tho l'ort Dunedin with a chance of catching tho Christmas and New Year markets at Home. It was anticipated that the whole transhipment would be completed by 10 o'clock this evening.

Some feeling was displayed by members of the Waterside Workers' Union in regard to the failure of the shipping agency to make a call for labour to load meat. One prominent member of the union stated they were prepared to load meat to-day if a call had been made.

KAITI FREEZING WORKS

ABOUT 200 MEN EMPLOYED

[BY TELEGRAPH— OWN CORRESPONDENT] GJSBORNE. Thursday

About 200 men are now employed at the Kaiti freezing works by the Gisborne Refrigerating Company, arid it is stated by the management that apart from the men engaged on tho killing floor and in tho felhnongery department, practically 80 per cent of the present employees aro members of the freezing workers' union. Of the 63 men now engaged either as experts or learners on the killing floor about 45 per cent are unionists, and the chamber hands aro almost all members of the union.

The works aro not yet staffed to full capacity, of course, but there has been no scarcity of expert or semi-skilled labour. Additions will be made to the staff as may become necessary as the season approaches its normal turnover.