THE SLAUGHTERMEN'S DISPUTE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13838, 27 February 1907, Page 5

THE SLAUGHTERMEN'S DISPUTE.

STRIKE IN CAKTJBBBUJRY -ATM) SOUTHLAND. CESSATION OP OPERATIONS. DEMAND FOK 2os PER HUMMED, KO ACTION AT EUBNSIDE. P«B United Press Associaitot^ CHRISTCHURCH, February 26. Without warning of any kind all the slaughtermen employed at tho freezing works in Canterbury went; out on strike to-day. Their action is the direct result of a. meeting the men hold last night, and of the, ferment oj the last few weeks. Tho companies' overtures were ignored, and evokedno direct reply from the men. Tho companies recognise tlio distinction between men who aro endeavouring to enforce tho demands afld members of tlio Slnughtern:e,n's Union, who have held hack throughout, h.ntl who announce that they have nothing to do with the agitation. But unionists aro involved in tho strike, which is ono of the most important experienced in the colony.

The companies must go on as far ns possible with thoso assistants who avo not on strike. These will take iho placo of tho slaughtermen, and their places will bo filletl with (jticli casual. labour as may bo available. The companies inloml in the meantime lo kill only what aro known as "preservers" and "potters." Tho goodclass mutton, for Iho freezing market, is not to bo killed yet awhile.

Tho freezing companies aro notifying clients not to forward stock until further advised,

STRIKE GENERAL IN CANTERBURY. STATEMENTS BY THE EMPLOYERS. (Pi?. United Pri3s Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 26. Following upon the meeting held last night the slaughtermen at tho Islington and Smithfiuld works, belonging to tho Christclnircli Meat Company, and also at tho Belfast and Fairficld works, belonging to the Canterbury Frozen Meat and Produce Company, did not commence work this morning. As thePareora slaughtermen are still "out" the striko is now general throughout Canterbury.

Mr VV. Murray, managing director of the Christchurch Meat Company, informed a reporter that tho men had given no notification this morning that they did not intend to start work. Last week, however, the companies' received anonymous letters emanating from irresponsible men iioting apart from their union to the effect that they would discontinue work if their demands were not granted. Tho officers of the union, who had previously taken no part in the men's action, had made no special movement at this juncture with tho rest. They did not start work this morning, and tho companies had received no communication from thorn of any kind. Air Murray had no further statement to make on tho position.

Mr F. Waymoutii, managing director of tho Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, coufirmed the announcement of a general strike. He etated that there wero no "freezers" on hand at the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company's works at present except a few at Fairfield. The week would havo been a. slack one in any case at Fairfield, us notice had boon received from Ashburton that owing to tho improved pastures farmers were holding back their sheep till they wero heavier. The companies would instruct clients generally not to send any further stock to the works until they wore advised. Although the slaughtermen' had gone out, tho other departments at tho factories were working. It was proposed to limit slaughtering operations for the present to "potters" and "preservers," which would bo _ disposed of by the slaughtermen's assistants and by Iho casual labour that would bo employed. Ho thought thore would be no difficulty in obtaining a. sufficiency of casual labour in the country to carry on tho works till tho strike ended. So far the company had not considered tho question of obtaining labour from Australia. He thought that a largo number of other workers would bo ready to tako employment as slaughtermen if they were convinced that Ihey would not bo interfered with by tho nion on strike. To guard against any possibility of trouble of that kind he had received a Ministerial assurthat if the circumstances seemed to require it ho was to applv at once to the inspector of police to havo men sent to tho works to maintain peace and order.

It is stated that advice ha-s been received locally that the Wellington employers have made an agreement with the men'by which tho latter will receive R33 a hundred. Tho agreement will bo ratified by tho Arbitration Court. It is said that news to this effect has emboldened tho local men to strike.

Employed by tho Canterbury Meat Company are 65 eiauphtcrnicn at Belfast, 50 at Fairfmld, and 30 at Pareora. Roughly speaking, the Christcliiirch Meat Company has 70 slaughtermen at Islington, 45 at Belfa.it, ami about 40 altogether at its works at Oa-inaru, Burnside, and Picton, which are not in this industrial district and aro not affected by tho strike.

Tho retail trade of tho Christcliiirch Meat Company will not bo affected by tho strike, for tho slaughtering will bo dono at the municipal abattoirs instead of at tho works. The slaughtermen at tho abattoirs aro permanent hands, and aro paid 10s per day, and up to tho present there aro no signs of dissatisfaction among them.

THE FAIRFIELD WORKS.

DEMAND FOR 25s PER HUNDRED. {Pxr Uhited Press Associmios.) CHRISTCIimiCH, February 26. The butchers at tho I'airfield works did not resume work this morning. Nearly a full board of butchers assembled at 8 o'clock, and although the sheep were penned ready (or them, aitcr consultation they left without starting. Subsequently they weiit in a body to tho manager's office, and staled that they were dissatisfied with the rate of pay, and desired 25s per 100. Aβ the manager could not aeeedo to their demand, the men left the works, one delegate being left to receive any communication the company might have to make.

THE SMITHFIELD WORKS.

NO FREEZERS ON HAND*. {Per Uhited Pbess Association , .)' TIJIARU, February 26. Killing operations at, the SniitlifieW freezing works aro now at a standstill. One slaughterman left, on Saturday last, and a small jiumbcr followed hie example yesterday, and the balanco left in a, body this morning. They went to the works, but refused to start. It is stated here that the Smit.hfield slaughtermen struck to-day by reason of advice received from the North Canterbury slaughtermen last night. Thero are no freezing sheep waiting to bo killed at Smithficld, the last having been disposed of on Saturday. There arc n number of "potters" and "preservers" awaiting slaughter, but all bookings of freezers havo been stopped.

TIIE ISLINGTON BUTCHERS.

'ASK FOR A SETTLING PP. (ffaon Oue Own Coreespokdent.) OHRISTCHUROH, February 26. Acting in concert with tho men at lielfast. the. Islington butchers to the number of 63 declined io resume work this morning. As an immediato consequence their assistants could not be provided with anything io do at their accustomed occupation, and in order that the wages loss sustained by them should be minimised as far as possibln the slaughterhouse foreman set them to giving the building a thorough cleansing. Tho management had no intimation that the slaughtermen did not intend to start again this morning. The men themselves were discovered grouped outside one of the local boarding-houses, and appeared to be taking matters most cheerfully. Presently a burly figure loomed in sight, and headed a procession, which filed into tho works for tho purpose of having a settling up of the past week's wages. At the pay-window of the office the men wore informed that no wages would be paid by the company until Tuesday next—the regular pay-day. After a whispered consultation among them tlw

leader stepped up and put the question in another form. He.-said to tho clerk in attendance: "If you - please, 1 want an order for my money. I am not satisfied with Hie conditions under which I am working, tuid I am going to leave the country. If I don't, get it I will hold the company responsible for any loss I am put to while waiting:." This was received with a subdued chorus of approval by Hie men, and several of them slated that they were in a similar position -with ihat of the spokesman. However., the clerk explained (hat be coiikl do nothing. He was only obeying orders from hcadnuart-ers. With (his the men dispersed without further ado or demonstration.

THE POSITION AT GISBORNE.

CONFERENCE .BIfI'WEEN EMPLOYERS AND MEN. [Pbb Ukitkd Psxss Assocutiok.) . (USBORNE, February 26. Work was'"suspcnded at tho Ciisborno freezing works this morning, but at Nelson Bros.' works tho men wero killing two lambs an hour, with long intervals between each animal slaughtered. Mr 'Jackson, secretary of the Slaughterers' Union, states that the men were dissatisfied with tho Arbitration Court award when it was made over two years ago. Sheep here were harder to dress than those, slaughtered in the south, as they 1 wero driven longer distance*. When tho award expired last August the men mado proposals for a fresh industrial agreement, including tho raising of tho rate to 25s per 100. Tho employers, however, did not accodo to the (Impanels, and application was mado 1o the Arbitration Court. This was somo time in August last, and no sitting of the court 3iad been held here since. Tho grievance o£ tho men uon- is that the 1 court has, been 60 long sitting, and as tho season is nearly gono now, they think it is hardly worth waiting for tho court, a? in ' tho winter tlio men will bo away bushfelling or in other districts. In some parts of Australia, stated Mr Jackson, 35s per 100 is being paid, and in tile early daye '. of tho industry in New Zealand men in the I south got 22s 6d. In Gisbomc tho men , liavo to loso by tho award on what they i formerly earned. Mr Jackson denies that tho men aro acting in concert with their • unions.

Tho men at Nelson Bros.' freezing worts aro meeting to-night, hut any decision will not bo disclosed until to-morrow morning. There aro reports that if tho employers allow tho two sheep an hour system to continue the butchers themselves will bring about ii climax.

Tho directors of the Gisborno Shcep-far-niors' Company had a meeting with a committee of tho men from tboso works today, and tho position wa,s explained to them. It was pointed out that it was impossiblo to deal with them its individuals whilo they wore working in a factory controlled by an award oE tho Arbitration Court. At the ,samo time, if they were prepared io adhere to tho union and to their application for a, varianco of ,the present rato of wages that was now awaiting tho hearing of tho court, tho directors wore prepared to discuss the matter. Any reasonable time- woidd be given tho men to-think'the matter out and to arrive at tho best decision. They would not be hurried at all. It was further pointed out that in a great pastoral district Jikc this it was not in tho same position us 'Wellington, and the factory would go on whether tho wen camo into line or not, but there need bo no hurry. Tho pretenco of work was absolutely intolerable.

Arrangements have been mado to meet any difficulty regarding stock on tho road. Mr Do Lautour (chairman of directors of the Gisbornc company), on being asked as to the stock, said there was no difficulty whatever in keening bade tho sheep, and all sheep in hand had boon arranged for without inconvenience, There would bo no loss to farmer.? except the delay, which it was hoped would only bo temporary. So far tec has-been no bitterness shown on either side.

STRIKE AT OCEAN BEACH AXD : WALLACETOWN.

(Pj-.r TJktted Pees 3 Association , .) INVERCARGILL, February 26. Tho slaughtermen at Ocean Beach and Wallace-town struck to-day. They ask for 25s per hundred, tho usual batch of holidays to ha paid for at double time, and 2s an hour for waiting time over an hour. As (hero is no slaughtermen's union in Southland, tho Arbitration Court cannot touchtbo matter. Tho Ho'.i. .T. A. Millar says that ho is determined to have the law- enforced, and lias instructed the court to take the strike business before anything else. STATEMENTS BY THE MEN. ENUMERATION OF GRIEVANCES. (Fbou: Our Own Cojirespondent.) CHRISTOHURCH, February 26. Now that their intention.? have been fully decided, tho men on strike are much less reticent than they havo been during tho past week. Several who wore seen at Islington this morning presented a strong indictment against their employers. Tho matter of wages' is, of course, tho chief grievance. They point out that they are receiving 20s per hundred for slaughtering freezing stosk between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., 22s 6d after 5 p.m., and a bonus of Is a day ae a kind of retaining fee. They say that in New South Wales 22s 6d is paid, and in Victoria 255. Tho matter of casualties, tco, occupies considerable prominence- in their minds. Tho unhealthy nature of some of of tho boiling-down sheep, they state, frequently induces blood-poisoning and "scaling" of tho skin of the operatives. Tlio thistles frequently found in tho wool of lambs penetrate the fingers and tho hands, their prosenco not being detected i until festering sores appear. On tho question of wages tho men worehighly indignant at tho roseate picture painted in reference, to their earnings. "If wo 3o make a ' tenner' for one fortnight, ivo never know but what wo will be on half time the next fortnight," one of them remarked. "Tako it all round, year in and year out, even with tho Australian slaughtering to do in addition, I don't supposo wo avcrago £2 10s a week, and very oftcti not that."

"If you follow tho game up all round," another interposed, "there is a lot of time and money lost in travelling. Not many of tho Jiicn inako a, practice, of doing this, because no one o*)i get so thoroughly used to such a job as to liko it, and when the season licro is over they look for other kinds of work, and are glad to take on labouring or anything at 6s or 7e a day." All tho men stoutly deny that anything in the nature of a strike has taken "place. "We simply are not. satisfied with the conditions, and are leaving for other places whero,wo can get bettor terms," one said. They all profess satisfaction with tho arbitration laws of tho colony, but. condemn tho tardy manner in which tho disputes are settled. "If wo waited 18 months or : two years until tho court heard our ease," tho same spoakor remarked, "we should Ivo scattered nil over Australasia, and would get. no benelit, Wo want tho thing to bo settled now, and ns that can't bo wo are turning up our jobs. If thero was an emergency Arbitration Court to deal with the trouble, tho same as drunks ara delitt with next day, we would not Jiesitatc io go beforo it, and would lako whatever was awarded."

All- Ih6 Australians !:avo announced (heir intention o[ returning liomo l>y Friday's steamer unless an amicable sci tlomonb is arrived at, and they allege -that ilio company's refusal to pay their wages on Ilio spot; this inornin? was dcsiffiio-J to frustrate that, determination. Three-fourlhs of ilio Islington butchers belong to Canterbury, but a larpc number of the remainder liailcd originally from Australia, and hare boon omplovd rcjrnlai'ly at Islington for tho nast 10 or 12 years. Those arc described as good workers and decent, quiet men,

THE ARBITRATION COURT.

CASK AGAINST THE PABEORA MEN. (Pee TJkited Phess Association-.) TIMAJIU, February 26. Tbo action against 24 slaughtermen's assistants at the Pareora Freezing Works, under section 15 of (ho amending net, IQOS, for a breach of the- Arbitration Court's award, was heard (hie afternoon bffore the Arbitration Court, Mr Jnsiien .Sim presiding. Evidence was led showing: that iho works wore idle, on Friday, Saturday, and Mondav tlirouu'h the defendants ceasing work. Mr S. G. Raymond, for the defendants. comonded tbat tho (iotendants acouircd rigliU ani incurred liabilitieß of duties under tho award that the act of 1905 would not alter, but in tho absence of express Kurds to tho contrary subsequent legislation would not impair or alter tho;-o riprhls or duties. If it did fo, it would restrict

their right to leave their employment in coiicun, ami impose a. penalty for an ot&crwiso legitimate action, lie pointed out. that- (.hero was nothing illegitimate in sinking at common law, nor was that right abrogated bv any of the industrial legislation until section 15 of tlio act of 1905 was* passed. If tlio 'strikers committed any bwach of (ho terms of tlio award they were liable, prior lo that act, to no penalty whatever. , Tlioir rights in respect to tho award wero ixutly contractual and partly of status, bill; whatever thbso rights were, they wera vested rights. Under these circumstances, ho contended that an act passed after tlio award would not act retrospectively if it lessened those rights,* and all decisions showed that, except in procedural fUiiiiKW, retrospective interpretation was to be considered. For a- second contention, he submitted ihnt Iho award was invalid, being niado without jurisdiction. It appeared, on tho fiice of the proceedings, thai after tlio refercneo to the court was filed a complete agreement between the employers and the union was entered into ami tiled, and that Iho award simply embodied the terms ot that agreement. Thq jurisdiction of tho court was limited to industrial disputes, and when the award was made, an industrial dispute no longer existed. Numerous authorities were quoted in support. _ This ease,' Mr Raymond remarked, differed from the Wellington one, which was a- case of alleged breach of an agreement, and tlio contentions of Mr Skerrett for tho defendants in that ease wero not open to him in thin case, the present defendants being alleged to bo under an award.

Mr White briefly replied, contending that tlio act must apply to all current awards and to offences, committal subsequent to the passing of the act. If the defendants were not liable, to penalty it would 'bo impossible ii get any convictions whatever oxeopi under awards made since October. • 1905.

Judgment was reserved- till to-morrow morning.

SETTLEMENT OF WAGES BY ARBITRATION.

OPINIONS OP LABOUR LEADERS, CFkou Ocr Own Correspondent,! WELLINGTON, February 26. The general opinion amongst Labour leaders lioro is that tho Arbitration Court ■will never satisfactorily eettlo tho question of workmen's wages, and that the only solution of tlio difficulty will be a system of profit sharing. The Secretary of the Wellington" Trades and Labour Council informed a. Post reporter to-day that- to his mind (hero would) bo no industrial peace until the baeie of wage.? was on a percentage of profits. ■ Those industries, lira said, not oapablo of bearing profits would go out of existence, or protection would bo neoessary. There were difficulties in estimating the workers' shore, but, considering that 'men hail lx*n ableto measuro the distaneo of the furthest star, they should, ho thought, be able to pet an idea about a reasonable basis of sharing. Ho objected to a living wage. " I suppese," he eaid.. " tho elavo-ownera of America looked after their slaves on the same principle." He went on to say that ho ■ could not seo any solution of the wajies difficulty except profit sharing, and maintained that this principle had already been partially recognised by t'Jto Arbitration Court. In cortain industries the wages had decreased beeavieo the profits had , fallen. That was tho caso with tho saddlery and boot trades, for instance, hut ■ wages had not been raised when profits had increased. Mr A. H. Ccoper, president of the, Trades and Labour Council, said ho considered that tho workers would stick to the minimum wage system temporarily, but so far as he was aware tho general fooling was in, iho direction of nrofit sharing. Mr W. _T. Younir, seorotarv of tho Seamen's Union, is of opinion that the minimum wage for every industry should bo fixed by act of Parliament, and in no case should tho rate bo less than a shilling an hour on the present valuo of that coin. He mentioned that in every award made bv tho court, and : in every industrial agreement, tho rates of wages specified wero tho minimum, ami in 99 cases out of 100 they became the maximum. The only legitimate euro ho could see was the co-opera-tive system. Ho maintained that tho industrial statistics issued by tho Begistrargeneral showed that the worker was not petting anything like a reasonable helping from Iho profits.

■ APPEAL TO THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER. IMPORTATION OF BUTCHERS ASKED FOR. (Per United Pmss Association.) , _ GISBOKNE, February 26. ' Tlie following telegram was despatched , lo the Acting Prime Minister this evening by Mr C. A. do Lautour (managing , director of the Gishorno Sheep-farmers' Company): " In view of some 100 men, mostly Australians, impeding the whole industry of the sheep-farming in the colony would you consider the advisability of a.i\rangin<r. for the immediate despatch from England or tho Capo of 100 qiialjPod butchere as assisted imirjipranfe, tho freezing' companies guaranteeing employment."

WORK TO BE RESUMED TO-DAY. (Per tFjnran Pmss Association.) OHRISTCKUROH, February 26. Work at tho- freezing works at Belfast and Islington wUI be resumed to-monow with ae many casual hands and slaughtermen as can bo procured. The comiianies have not much stock coming in, and it ie expected that what comes forward can bo dcilt with. It is not anticipated that there will be any trouble between tlie casual hands and the strikers to-morrow morning. SYMPATHY FOR THE FREEZING COMPANIES. (Per TJnjted Pbes3 Assocutios.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 26. At a meeting of the Executive Committee of tho Canterbury Employers' Association, held to-night, the following motion was adopted:— "That the committee of tho Canterbury Employers' Association oxpresses its sympathy with the freezing companies in tho trouble they are having with the slaughtermen, and trusts that tho great damage being done lo the whole of the producers of New Zealand will continue for a short time only."

THE POSITION .AT BURNSIDE. As far as can bo ascertained there, is no indication of any trouble at Buritsiilc. The sheds contain a full complement of mon engaged in killing-, and there, eeems no reason to anticipate that tliey will como out. The opinion is that they will smioly stand by to-see what eventuates in other quarters. They havo been piven to understand lliat tlie Clivistclmrch Meat Company (which controls tho works) will abido by any decision oomo to up north where the trouble has arisen. It is known that dissatisfaction exists among the men, hit they do not seem to meditate any action, and the supposition is that thev will keep to their work and abide by Iho outcomeof Iho striko further north. They appear to be content wilh the assuranco that whatever the result of tho etrike may bo they will participate in anything beneficial to tlißmsnlves. They have no union at Burnside, but it is understood ii mooting was held vecp.ntly with the object of forming one. What transpired at tho meeting, is naturally kept quiet, but even if a union was formed thoso interested fail to beo Hint it would make any difference in tho existing state of affairs. It is not thought there is the least danger of the men coming out. but should they do so it will.bo as individuals in tho absence of n union. One complaint is that the man only got 6d a day bcriu?, or retaining fee, while Is is paid chewhoro. Tho principal complaint at the abattoirs appears to bo tlrat the hours of work are not fixed and aro unduly long.