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NZ Truth, Issue 91, 16 March 1907, Page 3

Sir,— As a subscriber to your paper I would like you to publish the following faGts re strike of slaughtermen of the North British Freezing Works, Western Spit- On Monday, the 25th of February, Mr K. White came to the works and spoke to all butchers, thanking them for the way they had behaved m not coming out on strike, and stating that whatever the award was v?W gdv«n he would give the same and all bade money ; the men all went on witk their work. On Wednesday morning, the 27th, it was agreed to strike, but there was a difference between the men, some wanting to ask for 25s per 100 sheep, others 23s per .100. All hands went into the beef house,- when A. Baker spoke, say'ins:, "All m favor of 25s stand on "this 'side, m favor of 23s on the other

side/ I, C. Witt, stepped to the other side, saying I was m favor of asking for 23s only, and W. Brooks came and stood by me. We being the only -two it was carried to ask for 25s ;■ ' I being appointed as spokesman. All hands then went into the mutton house where Mr K. White addressed us m the same strain as he had done on the previous Monday. I spoke to Mr White on behalf of the men, all being present, asking for 25s per 100. Mr White said he could not (grant it until he had called a meeting of his directors. I asked him if he would wait a few minutes. He replied, Yes. We went outside and there it was agreed to stand by what we had asked for. We returned to. the mutton house. I stated same to Mr White. We then washed down, and after intervewing the beef butchers, A. Baker, B. Blair and W. Brooks, A. Baker said they would kill out the cattle they had started on and then would join us (as those three men were sometimes on mutton and on beef when there was beef to kill). I asked Baker how would I know if they ( came to any arrangements, as I was living a long way from the works. He told me nothing Would be done until they had sent to me first. I then went home to Grreenmeadows. Getting no message ! either by telephone -or otherwise, I did not return to the works until 9 o'clock the next morning,- when I found they had all turned to excepting myself and F. Renell/ We were sacked, arid likewise Tim Pornell, who could have started, but refused, as. he did not. think it fair to start." all hands not being there. The "Herald" of the next morning had a report stating that the men at the Worfcs had come to some settlement, and: Mr J: Morrison, foreman, had sent ;. to those absent to come m the morning: and start at 7 o'clock as .usual, /but that C. Witt was one who: failed his call. Now,' Mr Editor, as there is ; a 'phone on both sides of the. house I live 5m not a hundred yards. away (one at the post office, and the other at the wool works), which they are. all acquainted with^ and have sent messages over before, yet they never sent a message. The same paper says that two men at the .N.B. and H.B. had struck, not retarding the progress of the works. On seeing it I wrote the enclosed letter to the "Telegraph," and then went to the Nsß. town 'office for my, mensy ; was paid, when Mr White said I could return to work, for which 1 thanked him. Same day I went down again to the works, when all hands seemed quite pleased that I was coming back, but as my hand was , bad from a cut I had ten days previous, Mr Morrison, foreman, told, me I need not start until Monday, and not thea unless my hand was fit. On Friday. mornine; I rang up the "Telegraph," asking them to contradict my letter re dismissal, as Mr : White, had reinstated l me, for whi6h I wished to thank him. Then , I went down to the works, whon Smith told me I should contradict mv letter. I told him I had done so, and that it would appear m the next paper. vHe also told me. "that I, .ought .not to Have put t'he lames io', ■my letter, as, it would Week . them from getting a job if they went south (as. he is m the habit of doing). I told him he would see ths alter?tions when -published., but as to the names,, I had stated nothing but the truth, and could r,ot alter it. But Mr Editor, you. will see by my next lftter' to the "Telegraph" why my alterations to my first was not published, and also the stand the men took up against me. Mr 0. Krogh (cleric of works), on Monday, through 'phpue, asked mo to return to work on Tuesday morning, which I did, and. -then found the stand the men had. taken. I was unable to start, and, l think Krogh knew that I could not start when talking to me on the 'phone.. So I have lost my job. I shall be glad, Sir, if you can publish, this letter for me.— l am, &<\, . CHARLES WITT. : Greenmeadows, Napier .-