FREEZING WORKS TROUBLE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19957, 26 November 1926, Page 8

FREEZING WORKS TROUBLE.

FARMERS’ ORGANISATIONS. AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, November 25. An .mportant conference of freezing works’ representatives and farmers’ organisations was held to-day to discuss the position which has arisen as the outcome of the demands of the Freezing Workers’ Federation for increases in rates of pay on the award now current. The freezing companies’ representatives conferred during the morning and were joined in the afternoon by members of various farmers’ organisations, sheep farmers being present from all parts of the southern portion of. the North Island. The conference was of a private nature and no statement was issued to the press. It is understood that the representatives of the freezing companies waited on the Minister of Labour (the Hon. G. J. Anderson), the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. K. S. Williams, and the Postmastergeneral (the Hon. W. Nosworthy). Presumably the deputation discussed the present trouble, but nothing was made available for publication. GEAR MEAT COMPANY. SLAUGHTERING TO COMMENCE. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, November 25. The Gear Meat Preserving and Freezing Company announces that its works will be opened on Tuesday next for the slaughter of fat stock for export. WORK AT GISBORNE. MEN RAPIDLY QUALIFYING. (Pee United Peess Association.) GISBORNE, November 25. There were about 60 butchers on the boards at the two local freezing works thia morning. The standard set by the muon for an applicant for membership is a speed of eight sheep an hour, and yesterday three men qualified at this rate, though they had had only three days’ work on the Board. The staffs now engaged are able to handle all the stock forthcoming without trouble. FEILDING MEN WAYBEING PREPARED TO BEGIN. (Pee United Peess Association.) FEILDING, November 25. A full meeting of the Feilding branch of the Freezing Workers’ Union last night passed the following motion by 46 votes to 24—“ That the branch recommends- to the Hawke’s Bay workers that the den. and for an increase in wages at the present time is inopportune, and that the strike ,bo called off.” This resolution will be referred to all branches throughout New Zealand. The local works opened this morning with voluntary labour. It is that unionists will be prepared to begin aa soon as the other branches have been notified. PIC TON WORKS OPENED. FARMERS OFFER ASSISTANCE. (Pee United Peess Association.) BLENHEIM, November 25. The Picton freezing; works are affected by the freezing dispute. A call was made for labour to-day, and only one butcher and 10 other workers responded. Nevertheless the-works carried on temporarilyby arrangements made within the works. The farmers’ organisations are arranging to supply volunteer labour.