SLAUGHTERMEN'S DISPUTE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15672, 27 January 1913, Page 2 (Supplement)

SLAUGHTERMEN'S DISPUTE.

BIG FIGHT ANTICIPATED.. WELLINGTON, January 7. ' Probably beeauso the slaughtering season varies in different parts of the dominion and has not icached its full height anywhere just yet Wellington has been chosen as tho place where- the process of ceasing work shall begin. The works at Petono and Ngahauranga are both busy now, but save for interruption thej would bo much busier in two or thrco weeks' time, when the boards would be absolutely full. Tho notices of intention to ceaso work were served upon the Gear Meat Preserving Company and tho Wellington Meat Export Company on Monday. They wero tho formal notification required by • Clause 9 Sub-section I, of tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, in which it is provided that if any person employed in any of tho industries in which this section applies strikes without having given to his employer within one month before striking not less than 14 days' notice in writing, signed by him, of his intention to strike. strikes before the expiry of any notice so given by him, the striker shall be liable on summary conviction before a magistrate to a fine not exceeding £25. One of tho industries to which the section applies is to the slaughtering or supply of meat for domestic consumption.

This action on tho part of the rrien is the direct consequenco of tho failure to arrive at a satisfactory working agreement to replace the one which is just about to oxrjirc. Negotiations with the object of securing increases in pay and general improvement of conditions have been in progress since July last, but no acceptable finality could be reached. The men claim an increase of 5s per hundred, from 25s to 30s in the rate of pay for sheep, and an increase of 6d per head, from ,2s to 2s 6d for cattle. The companies refu6o any increase in the rate for cattle, but offer to make an advance in the rate for sheep, which, however, the men do not regard as sufficient. The offer of the companies was submitted to a ballot of members of the Slaughtermen's Federation last week, tho question being whether it should bo accepted or refused. No official statement of the result of tho ballot can be obtained from tho federation officials, but tho action now taken by tho Wellington men can legitimately bo take as an indication that tho voting generally went against tho acceptance of the companies' terms.

Information as to tho intentions of tho Slaughtermen's Federation was refused to a reporter who snught for it to-day. The officials had nothing to say for publication. There is, however, no doubt that tho action of the Wellington men is only the first stop in a general movement. All the Slaughtermen's Unions of tho dominion are federated, and as all of them cancelled thoir registration under the Arbitration Act within a few days of each other only recently, 'it is safe to assume that in this matter also they arc acting in concert. There aro just on '900 slaughtermen in New Zealand, and if they stop work they will at the same time force some 4000 other men employed in subsidiary branches of the industry to cease operations also. There aro about 65 or 70 slaughtermen employed at both Petono and Ngahauranga, and when these stop they will cause 500 or 600 other men to 6top as well, for with no slaughtering going on there will be no work for them to do.

In the Wellington industrial district there aro seven meat works other than the two n- -i" tho city. These aro Longburn, Masterton. Castlceliff, Patea, Tomoana, Paki Paki, Tho Spit (Napier). Whether they will be affected by the present move remains to bo seen. When the managers of the two local companies were a?ked for a statement as to the position they were likely to take up they agreed in maintaining an absoluto silence. They had no information to give. It is, however, understood that the companies have made up their minds to fight on this occasion, becauso now they have a promise of very practical support from tho farmers. That such a promise has been given was made perfectly clear by Mr E. Jack (dominion secretary of the New Zealand Farmers' Union). He paid that tho matter had been _ carefully considered bv the Farmers' Union, and tho companies had been assured of tho farmers 6upporc in resisting the unreasonable demand? of the slaughtermen. If the companies asked for the practical assistanco of the farmers, said Mr Jack, it was almost certain that the farmers and their sons would man tho boards. There was, indeed, no doubt whatever about this. The boards would be fully manned if the companies assured thofarmers that tho demands of the men were unreasonable, and that the thing was going to be fought out right now. There could bo no question that the feeling of the farmers was very strong that the present is the time to resist tho encroachments of the slaughtermen.' In conversation with another gentleman who is familiar with tho pos ; tion, the reporter was informed that the farmers generally recognise that some such fight has got to conic sooner or later. It would suit them very well to have it just now because there is any amount of feed in tho paddocks, and stock can be kept without difficulty. A stoppage of tho moat works now would not hurt tho average farmer very much. The-only men who would really suffer aro those who make a business of topping off sheep and cattle for tho slaughter pens. They have very large numbers of beasts fattening on comparatively small areas, and depend on the freezing works taking the stock when it reaches prime condition. The last strike at Petono and Ngahauranga occurred a few years ago when tho men wore refused -a demand for 25s per 100 for sheep. The "men wore not out fo'r very long; the trouble being ended on the concession of 235. Three years back the s'aughtering rato for sheep was raised to 25s per 100 all over New Zealand under tho present award, which will expire at the end of this month. POSITION IN CHRISiTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, January 8. Tho managers of tho Christcliurch and Canterbury Meat Companies state that thoit companies have not yet received any notice of tho intention of the Canterbury slaughtermen to ceaso work. Mr N. L. Macbeth, manager of the Canterbury Company, further stated that as things were at present it was impossible to say whether the proposed strike would extend to Canterbury, for up till now no definite decision liiad been arrived at as to whether tho men's demands would or would not be complied with. Farmers interviewed on tho subject oxpressed varying opinions, and one said tlrat lie did not care much what happened, and ho thought it_ would bo quite a good thing for the dominion if the slaughtermen struck. "Last time they did it," he declared, "cookies made thousands'. i The country is understocked at present, and if we have to keep our sheep it will be a good thing for us. Thero is plenty of feed about, and the only men who may feel the pinch a bit aro those who aro renting high-priced land and who naturally want their returns in as soon as possible. If the farmers want to build up and improve their flocks they will have to erase all this killing of their best ewe lambs. At present, in nearly every case, everything that buyers will take goes, and the farmer relies on buying to keep up his ewe flock. A practice like this eonstantlv indulged in will soon cause breeding flocks to deteriorate, as only inferior owe lambs are kept as m-cs. because these are the only ones not taken by the freezers. I don't think the idea of the farmers working in slaughterhouses would nan out very well. They could do the work all right, I believe, but what about tho shipping of tho stuff? Wouldn't the wharf labourers, etc., havo something +o say in the matter?" CANCELLATION HITCH OVERCOME. WELLINGTON, January 12. Tho hitch in the cancellation of tho registration of the Ne'w Zealand slaughtermen's unions may bo considered as overcome. Mr Rowley, acting for Mr J. Loinas (secretary of the Labour Department), has formally notified Mr M. J. Reardon Isecretary of tho Wellington Union) that there would bo no objection on the part of the department to granting the cancellation of tho Y/ollington Union and also that of the Slaughtermen's Federation. Yesterday, Mr Rowley elated that after inquiries had boon made as required by the act, it had been decided to cancel the registration of all the other unions throughout New Zealand, Canterbury at present excepted: In this case tho department was conducting its investigations by wire and letter, and it was not expected that there would be cause to refuse cancellation. In each and every instance cancellation was subject to there arising no Conciliation or Arbitration Court proceedings previous to tho publication of such cancellations in next week's Gazette. The present indications in regard to the big question of masters v. men aro that both parties are prepared for a test of strength. Tho companies have made no move beyond that chronicled some days ago, the offer of 27s 6d per 100 with the old conditions, including overtime.