SLAUGHTERMEN'S DEMANDS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7023, 11 January 1910, Page 6

SLAUGHTERMEN'S DEMANDS

COUNCIL OF CONCILIATION APPOINTED. A MEETING TO-MORBOW. t So far as the actual position between the slaughtermen and their employers is concerned, there is little fresh to report. The employers have up to the present, it is understood, declined to. give way to the demands of the men, and the latter are just as determined to adhere to their originally expressed intention of striking Mt the expiration of the fourteen days' notice, unless their wishes ore complied with. Mr P. Halley, Conciliation Commissioner for the Wellington district, has intervened in the matter, and has'.appointed, a Council of Concili*ation, which will meet to-morrow afternoon at the office of the Labour Department, to consider the position. The council will consist of Messrs Kyder and Martin, who hUve been appointed by the commissioner to acton behalf of the slaughtermen, and Messrs Tripe, Sladden and Corner, who will represent the interests'of the employers. Messrs Tripe and Sladden were nominated by the commissioner in accordance with th 3 provisions of the Act, and it is thought by those conversant with the position that their appointment will give genei'ul satisfaction to employers and employed, as they are gentlemen With a good knowledge of the industry ar.d its environment. It is felt in some circles that, unless the men modify their demand of 25s per 100 for sheejj, the parties will never be brought together by the Council of Conciliation. It is expected that the council will finish discussion of the position to-mor-row afternoon, and will be in a position to issue its recommendations on Thursday morning. Both sides will thus have severnl days to make a decision prior to the expiration, on January 19th, of the men s notice of their intention to strike Whatever decision is arrived at locally will probably be followed in the other centres of the Dominion in which there is threatened disruption. CONFERENCE AT GISBOBNE. FBEBS ASSOCIATION. A~ * GISBOENE, January 10. „At, i T ll ? 0 b . etween representatives of the local freezing companies and the slaughtermen's union was held on Saturday. Nothing was then arrived at. A £?& Y? 8 6 ? nt , t^ ia y h ? «"> companies intimating that .they were agreeable to the demands being titled at once and for this purpose would facilitate, in every way, investigations by proper methods under the provisions of the Concii ition and Arbitration Act. It is understood that the workers are referring their -reply to Wellington, and will await instructions from headquarters. Provision is being made by the local companies against anv immediate strike. Stock is being accepted at the works only on condition that it is to be returned in the event of cessation of work. Some fifty butchers and 100 hands will be aSected by a strike.

THE POSITION IN HAWKE'S BAY. la view of local developments resulting from the slaughtermen's trouble, a "Daily Telegraph" reporter visited the Tomoana Freezing Works. Mr H. G. Warren, eecretary Nelson Bros.. Limited, said:— "I really cannot Rive you any information regarding the Uttitude the men in the ivorks intend to assume. As far as we know our men are satisfied, but

they are members of the union, and they will probably havo to act on th© instructions they receive from. Wellington, from where the situation appears to be governed. In the meanwhile we have received no official notioe."

In reply to to. farther inquiry, he said thai the company worked nine months out of the year, and during' that : period a good average butcher could eaci £& a week. In the off season of three months, ha would be employed at farm work, bush falling, etc* Mr H. C. Dawson, secretary of Messrs T Borthwjck and Some' Freezing Works at Puki.Paki, said that his company had received no. notice from, the men, whom he believed did not yet know themselves what would be done. In reply to a. question, Mr Dawson said that during the season an. average butoner's earnings varied from .£5 down to £3 a week, but J24> a week' would be a fair average. An ex-sluughterman, resident in Hosfcirrgs, gave it as his opinion, that tha matter would never reach H a ''crisis, because the men'6 demands would be conceded in a week' or two. ■ "Why," be said, "in : Melbourne they are paid 23s for young sheep. Years ago, when I was working m Wellington, they were killing for. 16s 8d per 100. But that was before we got the union." -- AT GISBOENE. ~J? • 'ponversation ' with.""" a Glsbom©. limes representative, one of the slaughtermen employed at the local works said that although, the works ware open from October until July, it wjw not until well after Christmas that they were working full time, and even thS the men considered themselves fortunate if they got an unbroken run of four-or five weeks. Although at times theyiade taken if' ?f U Ihe did «* think that taken ail the year round, the wag™ earned would exceed per weei. Sen I?*' the local got a slightly better run than thosTS most other places,. the higher cost S [living here had to be coSeredTSd 2 his opuuon the present rate of navdM