A MEAT FAMINE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8655, 13 February 1914, Page 7

A MEAT FAMINE

THREATENED IN SYDNEY NO STOCK SALES AT HOMEBUSH. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 12, 9.20 p.m.) SYDNEY, February 12. A meat famine is threatened unless to-night’s meeting of the employees reaches a settlement. There were no sales of stock at Homebusli to-day. For the first time in the history of the State the sales were postponed owing to a strike. A meeting of stock agents and buyers decided to postpone the .sales till further notice. A statement has been issued that as a result of the Butchers’ Union blacklisting certain members of the retail trade and forbidding the carcase butchers to supply them, under thei threat of the withdrawal of the slaughtermen, it has been decided that the carcase butchers close down from to-night, until the black-list is withdrawn or an amicable settlement is reached by the committee appointed to handle the trouble. Stock-owners have - boon advised to stop forwarding stock till further advised. FIFTY SHOPS CLOSED. A FIGHT TO A FINISH. (Received February 12, 9.35 p.m.) SYDNEY, February 12. Owing to the black-listing, fifty butchers’ shops in the city and suburbs are closed. The carcase butchers and the buying and selling agents declare they will fight to a finish if the men refuse the compromise of a 49J hour week, with a rise of ss. All slaughtering, both for the retail and the export trades, will cease to-night, failing a settlement.