FREEZING WORKERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19692, 20 January 1926, Page 7

FREEZING WORKERS.

TROUBLE AT FEILDING. STATEMENT BY COMPANY'S CHAIRMAN. REPLY BY UNION’S DELEGATES. (From Ope Own Correspondent.) FEILDING, January IS. Mr J. G. Cobbe, chairman of directors of the Fending Farmers Freezing Company, when speaking on the go-slow policy at the works, said that, if the men’s demands were acceded to, the increase in the killing rates would almost amount to over £4OOO, or more than twice the profit the company made last season. Mr Cobbe further stated that no more lambs were being accepted by the company, and instructions to that effect were being issued to their clients immediately. For those sheep that the company has on hand for slaughtering there is fortunately plenty of grazing available. It is anticipated that me company wiH, in conformity with the practice adopted elsewhere, issue next week an order that only four sheep per man per hour shall ba killed. This action is absolutely necessary to provide for the smooth running of the works, and to avoid congestion in the other departments should the butchers suddenly decide to work at the normal rate. Mr Cobbe stated that he was pleased to be able to say that the labourers employed at the works were not in sympathy with the attitude taken up by the butchers, blit, on the contrary, they were anaaimoos in supporting the company in the matter. Most of the labourers concerned are married men, permanently residing in Feilding, and the loss of employment consequent on the action of the butchers will be seriously felt by them. Mr J. P. Queenan, slaughterman’s delegate at the Aorangi Works, has forwarded to the Manawatu Times the following reply to Mr Oobbe’s statement; ‘The figures given by Mr Cobb© regarding the cost to the Feilding Freezing Company oL the increase asked for by the slaughtermen admit of some correction. Estimating the number ot sheep and‘lambs expected to be put through as 25,000, the increase of 2s 6d per 100 on this number amounts to £312 10s. No department, other than the slaughtermen, has demanded an increase, and, therefore, these figures—£3l2 10b—represent the maximum cost to the company. The increase actually works out at three-tenths of a penny per lamb, or sheep, which is an infinitesmal amount per lb. • . . “These works have given m previous years a bonus to slaughtermen, varying from £7 to £lO. The bonuses were given voluntarily, and compare favourably with the slaughtermen’s present demands. The Auckland district is paying the increases in addition to railway fares to Morewa, North Auckland, and a £lO bonus is also added. Therefore, it will be seen that the Feilding men’s demands do not exceed what is already being paid voluntarily ia, other districts, and that Mr Oobbe’s estimate of £4OOO, as being the cost of our demands, is far above the correct figure*, which .are £512 10s on the proposed kiSmgs for the present year. NO TROUBLE AT MATAURA. (Fbs United Purrs Association.) GORE, January 19. The Mataura Freezing J'forks opened today. There is no trouble with the bands, who are working as usual.