THE SLAUGHTERMEN

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8367, 1 March 1913, Page 6

THE SLAUGHTERMEN

MEN LEAVE FOR SYDNEY LOCAL WORKS WELL MANNED. (Own Correspondent.) A number of slaughtermen left Petone yesterday afternoon for Sydney. Another phase of the trouble has now shown itself. At Thursday night's mooting of slaughtermen in Wellington only some six or seven men voted to return to work on the companies’ terms out for a total number of sixtyseven. This decision has made the position more complicated, on account of Canterbury butchers voting to accept 27s 6d in lieu of the 30s per hundred demanded. In the first place it was the southern slaughtermen who first moved in the matter of getting the killing rate raised, and they are the first to throw in the sponge. Several butchers who would not accept hooks at the local works wired to Canterbury on Thursday night for positions on the southern “boards.” On Friday morning word camo that there were no “hooks” available. There are not “hooka” for a quarter of the old slaughtermen at the works in Canterbury, and the question is, will they apply for positions at North Island works? In all probability they will, and the very few positions that ore now open will be allotted to men other than residents of Petone.

The slaughtermen have been buoying themselves up with the idea that the free labourers would never fill the bill. Many persons other than slaughtermen were of the same opinion, but that view has been shattered. The free labourers can, and are doing slaughtering work most satisfactorily, and improving the tally each day. It is surprising how some of the learners have progressed. Men who had difficulty in slaughtering and dressing two sheep an hour when they entered the works a few weeks ago aro now able to handle over fifty in a day of eight hours.

“If we are beaten, we are beaten by our own men,” said a prominent member of the Slaughtermen's Union. “The strike has been conducted in a most orderly manner, and if the boys from off the farms are able to knock us out, well, more power to them, but when onr own men turn, well, it hurts.”

Both at Ngahanranga and Petone the free labourers tv med out 2500 car. cases of lamb and mutton yesterday. Rape crops are diminishing, and fat lambs being now on the top of condition will have to be hurried to the works or they will Soon “go back.” POSITION IN HAWKE’S BAY. , MEN RETURNING TO WORK. Press Association. HASTINGS, February 28.. “The local slaughtermen will, follow the course taken by the strikers in Canterbury and return to work,” was the opinion expressed by one of the strikers. Nothing definite has been decided yet. The line of action to bo pursued cannot be fixed until the men hold a meeting. Many of the strikers have left the district and some trouble would be experienced in getting them together, but oven should the slaughtermen agree to resume work, it is possible that a good many will be unable to obtain hooks. At Tomoana, for instance, there is a full board of thirty-five butchers. The number of sheep put through by them for one day has been as high as 2500, and the men are daily becoming more efficient with the knife. Consequently, in view of the statement made at the beginning of the strike, that the firm would protect the men who came to their assisance as free labourers, it is unlikely that the strikers will be able to go back if they wish to. Thirty-five men went out on strike at Tomoana, and ten have since returned to work. A few of the others are still about town, marking time. Some have taken up various occupations, and several have left for other parts of the Dominion. At the Papipaki works there are twenty free labourers on the board, and they put through between 900 and 1000 sheep daily. When the ex-slaughtermen sheathed their knives there were twen-ty-eight killing. The firm, in the event of the strikers deciding to abandon the strike, do not intend taking them back at the expense of the men who are at present manning the boards and who came to their assistance when the strike commenced. The services of the free labourers will be retained, and should there be any books to spare, the strikers will be allowed to resume work on the terms and conditions offered by the companies. Five more free labourers are expected at Pakipaki, and there will then be a total board of twenty-five, leaving only three hooks unfilled. A representative of the North British Company stated that the company would have nothing whatever to do with the ex-slaughtermen, even if they decided to abandon the strike. More than sufficient free labour was offering to occupy the boards, and the tally was better than before the strike. The company was satisfied with the work that was at present being done. IN POVERTY BAY.' GISBORNE, February 28. The striking slaughtermen held a meeting last night, and decided to approach the companies, applying for reinstatement on the condition that present free labourers are discharged. There is no likelihood of the condition being conceded., BACK ON MONDAY AT TIMARU. TIMARU, February 28. The local slaughtermen are expected to offer to resume work on Monday.