SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13832, 20 February 1907, Page 5

SLAUGHTERMEN'S STRIKE.

SwI'TLBMISNT ARRIVED AT,

TliiS MEN'S DEMANDS CONCEDED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) VIiJjLIXGTON, February 19. The Gear Company having given way to the demands of the men to the extent of paying them 23s per 100 sheep, tho Heat Export Company lias now followed suit. Tho Minister of Labour, after consultation with his colleague's, decided llnit Iho Labour Deparlinont could not assist in procuring men for any individual company further than if any employer required men, and men had registered on tho books of the department, then tho department would endeavour to supply iho wants of the employer. This has been tho policy in the past, and the Government does not see its way clear to extend it. So far as enforcing the law is concerned, tho Government is determined that the law must be observed.

In an interview with a. reporter of tho evening paper, Mr W. (i. Foster, of tho Meat Export Company, was asked his opinion of the Arbitration Act: •" So far as I his psis is concerned," lie said, "it has proton absolutely valueless to tho employer. Whilo it has punitive effects which may he visited on I ho employee, it lias no machinery whatever for keeping a going industry on tile vails. ]t is apparently impossible to forco men to work who won't work, and tliero is nothing in tho law which either suggests or permits the Government to render assistanco in the case of such a crisis. In relation to our own ease, it, was felt by tho company that, not only from a public, but from a personal standpoint, tho constitutional course to have followed wa6 that of strictly adhering to tho law. Tho Government could lioi—was possibly unablo to—help us, and tho only course open to us was lo concede what, I think, were unreasonable demands. Tho primary object of the Arbitration Act was to render strikes impossible. From what we have recently wen it is obvious tho act is entirely insufficient, and it is difficult' to see, how it can bo amended' to givo it sufficient force to prevent such ealastrophcs in tho future. Tho present penally is a moneiary one, punishable by imprisonment in (he case of non-payment, hut it is extremely doubtful, unless the sentence was a long one, whether it would lmvo the effect of preventing strikes. Tho employer, on the other hand, nsstimcdly has money behind him, and can ho compelled to pay up. It may be said that tho employer can do as the men have done —that ho can close down his works jf lie is disinclined lo concede the demands made. This might be possiblo in tho case of any industry, such as cabinetmaking, for instance, where, if the men stop work, lie has only to think of the loss of his'own personal earnings and his business. In this case, however, tho works we're necessary, as stock had to be dealt with as soon as it was ready. Tho loss did not stop at tho works concerned, but was felt throughout llio country amongst farmers and producers."

Mr Pryor, the general secretary of tho Employers' Federation, has serious misgivings in regard to tho success of tho act: "I regret very much," ho said, "tho unfortunate circumstances which have compelled the two companies interested to accede' to the men's demands, because if they had stood firm in their attitude that the matter was one for settlement by tho Arbitration Court .they would have had tho bulk of public opinion behind them. The result of the settlement that has been arrived at, lo my mind, seems to spell tho utter breakdown of the Arbitration Act. It appears to have been shown to the workers of tho colony that a 'strike' (or whatever it may bo called) is a more elfectivo means of securing higher wages than the Arbitration Court, In my opinion the result will possibly be that before long we will witness tho cancellation of the registration of a number of unions, and tho etriko principle will be applied when tho demands of the workers are not acceded to by employers."

fPBK Uhitkd Peiss Association.) WELLINGTON, February 19. A new agreement has been drawn up, and will probably be signed by the slaughtermen and freezing companies in a few days. In this it is provided, tho men explain, that 23s per 100 shall be paid for killing sheep; 2s an hour will bo paid for waiting time, and woife performed on Saturday from 12 o'clock until 4- p.m. will be paid at the rate of timo and a-quarter. Otherwise the agreement is very much the same as the award which recently expired.