FREEZING WORKS DISPUTE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19958, 27 November 1926, Page 13

FREEZING WORKS DISPUTE.

IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT.

OFFER BY COMPANIES.

REFERENCE TO ARBITRATION COURT.

(Special to Daily Times.)

WELLINGTON, November 26,

As the result of a conference between representatives of the freezing works and farmers’ organisations yesterday there has been an important development in the freezing dispute. The conference, while confirming its allegiance to the present award, decided to offer to join with the men in askiug the Arbitration Court to issue a new award. This offer was made under the conditions that the men accepted work at once, and that all non-union men should retain their positions.

Following the conference, Mr Milne, acting on behalf of the freezing companies of New Zealand, forwarded the following letter to Mr C. Revell, Kaiapoi, who is secretary of the New Zealand Freezing Works and Related Trades Industrial Association of workers. “At several freezing works in the Nortn Island the slaughtermen and others have failed to respond to the call for work. We can only assume that this course of action is due to the freezing companies having refused to consider an increase of 10 per cent, in the rate of wages. lam authorised on behalf of the freezing companies of New Zealand to inform you that they consider that there are several matters in the existing award that should be amended, including a decrease in the rate of wages in the case of a certain class of labour. Nevertheless, we propose to abide faithfully by the Arbitration Court’s award as it stands until a new award is issued. If, however, your federation is really of the opinion that there is any justice in your demand for an increase in wages we are quite willing to join with you in asking the Arbitration Court to concel the existing award and to issue a new award. We make this offer with the proviso that the members of your union shall accept work forthwith, and that all non-union workers engaged because of lack of other labour shall return to their positions if they so desire.”

The letter was forwarded so that it would reach Mr Revell this morning. It >s understood that a further conference is being held this afternoon between those concerned in the industry and Ministers of the Cabinet.

WAIROA MEN’S ATTITUDE

SUPPORT FOR HAWKE’S BAY

(Pee United Pbess Association.) WAIROA, November 26. At a fairly representative meeting of the local Freezing Workers’ Union, held last night, the members decided by a substantial majority to support, the Hawke’s Bay men. Consequently no unionists will be available locally when the works open next Wednesday.

ENGINEERS’ SYMPATHY

APPEAL FOR SUPPORT.

(Peb United Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, November 26. The Wellington branch of the Amalgamated Society of Engineering and Allied Trades, on November 25, carried a resolution of sympathy with the Hawke’s Bay freezing workers in the stand they had taken to secure a living wage for services rendered to the community. They declared that it was a public scandal that between 30 and 40 per cent, of those workers were only able to earn under an award of the Arbitration Court, roughly, £5 to £3 5s a week during the season, and were then dismissed when the labour market was at its worst. They appealed to the workers through their industrial organisations to give every support to the freezing workers. EEILDJNG UNIONISTS. NO MOVE TO COMMENCE. (Peb United Phess Association.} FEILDING, November 26. Nine butchers are on the board at the Feilding Freezing Works and everything is proceeding smoothly. They started today on lambs, and the management is particularly satisfied with the work. There is ample voluntary labour offering. It is learned that the unionist butchers are against working, while the labourers favour starting. Though the Feilding branch carried a resolution in favour of starting, no move has yet been made by the unionists. PEOGEESS AT IMLAY MEN’S INCREASED EFFICIENCY. (From Ock Own Correspondent.) WANGANUI, November 26. The authorities at the Imlay Freezing Works are now confident that operations will be expedited each day as a result of the increased efficiency of the free labour engaged. Every day in every way the men are getting better and better. So far there has been a conspicuous absence of unionists from the works, and there is no interruption whatever.