NO STRIKE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7027, 15 January 1910, Page 5

NO STRIKE.

SLAUGHTERMEN'S WAGES » - AGREEMENT REACHED. DEMANDS OF THE MEN FULLY CONCEDED. ...... ■- A conference between representatives of the New Zealand Federation of Slaughtermen and the employers at the various meat works was held last night, Mr P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, presiding. An agreement was.arrived at, to operate throughout the Dominion, providing j as follows: — Men to be paid' 25s per 100.. ■ ■ | Eight-hour day to be Tecogmsed. Fines for damage to skins to be j abolished. . , Preference to bo given to unionists. The conference agreed that the essen'tial features of the conditions' embodied in this agreement should apply to all parts of New Zealand. Provision is made in Tegard to 'learners, by which one learner to every ten men is conceded. . " .It was. agreed, with respect to "waiting time," to pay the men 3s per hoar. - Provision is made in regard to work on holidays, on the usual holiday conditions of payment. None but competent men are to be recognised by the companies. A "cornpotent" is to be regarded as one who can kiU eighty sheep per day. A,learner becomes a competent as soon'as; he is able to kill that number, of sheep per day. ~ The preference clause is rather unique as regards labour awards. It provides that none but competent men will .be admitted to the ranks of the union, or any man owing contributions to a kindred slaughterman's union, in New Zealand or Australia. Subject to these two. conditions being complied with, a man will be admitted to the union without ballot or election. ,

-This agreement is to operate ; for a period of threa years, dating from Monday next. The union, in a further special agreement, undertakes 60 far as it possibly can to renew the essential portions'of the agreament for* a further periiod of two years, malting five years in all, in .order to ensure an uninterrupted run of ,the industry. . The various points of. the agreement ,were stubbornly contested ' throughout, ,by both the .union, delegates" and. the .employers' representatives. The proceed,ings commenced" at 8 o'clock, and did ( not "terminate until after midnight. '