WESTFIELD MEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23208, 30 November 1938, Page 14

WESTFIELD MEN

CONFERENCES FAIL . NO LAMBS SLAUGHTERED EFFECT UPON VALUE PEAK OF SEASON AT HAND Conferences between tho representatives of tho men and tho management of tho Wostfield freezing works yesterday failed to bring about a 6ottlemont of the men's grievances, and no work was dono in the slaughtering or other departments by the usual staff. A meeting of the 850 men, boys and girls employed at tho works was held at eight o'clock, and representatives of the workers and tho president of tho Freezing Workers' Union, Mr. Oh Baker, were appointed to confer with the management. Pending the result of tho conference most of the workers returned to their homos, on the understanding that another meeting would be held about mid-day. Groups of tho younger men remained in the works nnd discussed tho possibility of a settlement being reached. Men to Meet To-day

The conference extended over fully three hours, and the workors' delegates reported the trend of tho talks to tho second meeting, held shortly before one o'clock. They stated that no dofintio progress had been made but that tho conference would be resumed at 2 p.m. Several of tho workers called for a more detailed report to be presented by the delegates, but they wero met with the reply that tho workers would require to repose confidence in their representatives. The workers loft for their homes after a resolution had been carried calling another meeting for eight o'clock this morning, to receive further reports on the negotiations.

A torrential downpour of rain hastened tho exodus of tho workers, and when tho conference was resumed at 2 p.m. the works presented a deserted appearanco. The proceedings in the afternoon ended without any progress having been made, after talks lasting for about 45 minutes. No official statement was made on behalf of tho workers, but one was issued by the management. It stated that no settlement had been reached. Several Workers Suffer

During the morning hopes wero entertained that tho conference would result in work being resumed this morning. It was stated that the issue in dispute concbrned only a small percentage of tho 850 workers involved in the stoppage of work. Soveral of the workers said they would suffer by tho stoppage, and any concessions gained would not bring them any compensating benefits or increases in remuneration.

Tho appearance of numerous motorcars, obviously from distant country places, gave rise to a / belief that farmers were arriving t<o offer their services in slaughtering and ( other work. No confirmation of this was available, although a considerable number of farmers made calls of inqyiry throughout the morning. During the day the staff employees and several of the office staff assisted in killing and dressing fully 100 bobby calves, and a number of pigs held over from Monday. That class of stock could not be held over indefinitely. The fat lambs were not handled and are being fed at the works. The staff hands also loaded chilled beef from the cool stores for shipment by tho Port Townsvillo, now taking cargo at Auckland in preparation for departure on Saturday.

Union Handles Negotiations ~ Although representatives of jtho> Auckland council oif the Federation of Labour visited the works on Monday to discuss matters with the union representatives and the workers' delegates, they did not participate in the negotiations with the management yesterday. The workers' case was handled by union representatives. The serious effects of the hold-up of slaughtering were admitted by the management, although it declined to comment , on. suggestions that an oarly endeavour would have to be made to handle the large numbers of fat lambs held on farms. Tho capacity of the plant is fully 9000 lambs a day, and the peak of the killing season is almost at hand.

One of the visiting farmers said that lambs, unlike other classes of stock, had to he handled at specific times, otherwise the weight and bloom of the carcase would not be of tho quality arid grade desirable for the Homo market. Even a few days' delay would substantially affect tho selling value of tho carcase. HOROTIU WORKS BUSY HEAVY KILLING OF LAMBS [fbom OUR OWN' correspondent] HAMILTON, Tuesday An exceptipnally busy timo is boing experienced at tho Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company's works at Horotiu, where largo numbers of lambs, pigs and boner cattle aro at present being killed. Tho "chain" system of killing is in operation, and no cessation of work has occurred.