THE WAY CLEARED

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8330, 16 January 1913, Page 7

THE WAY CLEARED

BUTCHERS’ REGISTRATIONS CANCELLATION TO BE GAZETTED TO-NIGHT. In tho “ Gazette ” to-night-thero will appear tho formal notifications of tho cancellation by tho Labour Department of tho registration under the Arbitration Act of tho Slaughtermens Iteration and its component unions. Almost to tho last moment there was doubt as to whether certain Dion would be received horn tho Wan terbury Union in time, but tbo papers came to hand, and were hnally dealt with lato yesterday afternoon. Inquiries mado by tho department have shown that there is 110 r "“ why tho cancellation should not be granted, so that the added trouble which was threatened on tho nouappearanco of tho notices m last week s “ Gazette ” need not now bo feared. The cancellations wdl only just appear in time so far as the Wellington and Canterbury Unions aro concerned, for tbo agreements under winch slaughtermen in those districts are working both expire at midnight tonight. If the cancellations by some mischance are not gazetted this evening, the employers can absolutely prevent the men from making any move by filing an industrial dispute to-mor-row morning. Such a development, however, is not likely _to arise. The agreements under which the _ other slaughtermen’s unions are working do not expire until tho end of tho month. So far as could bo ascertained yesterday, no other unions have given notice or their intention to cease work. The arrangement seems to be that Wellington is to bo tho scene of the test of strength between tho two parties. “NO REMARKS ON GAME.” SLAUGHTERMEN ARE NOT COALMEN 10ATTVE. To the casual observer, there is no sign of ceasing work in the slaughterhouses of the meat companies at Ngahauranga and Petone. Both aro working at high pressure, and when the lunch hour is being taken there is a total absence of conversation among slaughtermen relative to the termination of the agreement with the companies and the order to cease killing if tho union’s demands aro not acceded to. In answer to tho question, ’ 1 What is the slaughtermen’s opinion on the position?” ono dresser of mutton yesterday replied: “ The notice placed in public biDiard-rooms, ‘ You are requested not to make remarks on the game,’ fully explains tho position in which most slaughtermen find themselves.” “Taking all things into consideration,” vouchsafed an old hand, “ there aro a number of us who are willing to accept the companies’ offer of 27s fid per hundred, as wo are fully aware a stoppage of work will not be to our benefit.”

“ There will be a strike, without doubt,” said a prominent company official, “ and the Gear, and Meat Export Companies will close down.” Why the Wellington companies are _ picked out on each occasion by the union officials to start the ball rolling is not explained. There are comparatively few lambs arriving at the works, and it is mostly fat sheep that are being slaughtered. About seventy-five butchers are employed at the Gear Company’s works at Petone, of whom upwards of fifty are local married men with families. The cessation of slaughtering at these works will be the cause of throwing over four hundred men out of employment who are not parties to the dispute. GISBORNE MEN GIVE NOTICE OF INTENTION TO STOP WORK. GISBORNE, January 15. The Poverty Bay slaughtermen notified the local Trades and Labour Council to-night that they would cease work as from the 31st inst. Local managers of freezing works will not state whether they have been notified or not, contenting themselves with stating that there is nothing fresh to report. Mr O. A. Delautour, managing director of the Sheepfarmers’ Company, went south by the Takaptma, together with Mr Warren, New Zealand secretary for Messrs Nelson Bros.