FREE LABOUR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11247, 27 June 1922, Page 8

FREE LABOUR

TO COUNTER A STRIKE. ASSISTANCE FOR SOUTHERN FREEZING COMPANIES. LABOUR SECRETARY RETICENT. ' Interest in the freezing workers’ strike dn the south has been increased by the decision of the companies to go ahead with free labour. They have appealed to all sheepowners and other persona in a position to do so to come to the assistance of the freezing companies by volunteering for work at the factories or assisting to procure the services of others. Officials of the Freezing Workers’ Federation, according to southern exchanges, will not comment on the free labour aspect, but the situation, it is said, “appears ominous, in, so far as it recalls the great strike of 1913, when mines were closed and wharves idle, and when free labour had to bo protected by cordons of special constables. On that occasion there was a good deal of lawlessness and disorder. Whether the present trouble will lead to anything of the same kind depends on the attitude of other unions. The average Labour leader is net inclined to counsel a general strike at this time when there is so much unemployment about, but employers fear that agitators will not scruple to take advantage of tho opportunity and promote class strife. Concern is expressed at the possibility of the meii on strike flocking to tho cities and demanding assistance from organisations set up to help men who are out of work through no fault of their own.” Tho secretary of the New Zealand Freezing Workers’ Federation (Mr F. J. Niall) was not in a communicative mood when approached by a reporter. When asked if the men were receiving strike pay, he said that matter did not concern tho newspapers. Mr Niall scorned the suggestion that killing at any considerable extent was going on in North Canterbury, -and ho said it would be interesting to know how many bona fide slaughtermen had returned to work. “Will free labour help the companies?” he was askssl. “yy here will it come fiwm f” oottntered Mr Niall. “The farmers and thoir sons may come forward.” “Yes, they might be silly enough,” was his response. “There is certainly -a good deal more behind tho strike than 10s per man,” said an official of the Canterbury union. “The companies prepose to make reductions equal to 6s Id per hundred for tho slaughtering of sheep and 3s 3d per hundred for the slaughtering of lambs, with a total of 2d off the hourly wage of labourers, and all this in an occupation that is seasonal. They actually want the award rate reduced l;y more than the amount fixed in the court’s bonus reduction order. Where are wo going to Ns next season if this goes on?”