SMITHFIELD STRIKE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13070, 9 May 1913, Page 8

SMITHFIELD STRIKE.

WORK ON THE- ZEALANDIC,

FAKAfERS TAKE A HAND

__.-i.v__-., -fl^jrTHifcg • As§bda„bn.r ■ CHRISTCHURCH, last night. It is- tmdefstood that a _- mass meeting of all workers — -Unionists and non-union-ists — engaged ih the frozen -meat industry is to be held in the Trades Hall on-"' Sunday to ■ discuss matters in connection, with the present position of affairs at Smithfield and Pareora. A special meeting of the Canterbury, Frozen Meat.. Workers'-, Bacon, aiid Manure Workers' Union has been called for Saturday night to discuss matters in connection with the industry. TIMARU, last night. Bolth freezing! '-w^p-rks : badi an augmented strength on the killing boards to-day, and the work; was going on as usual, though the boards are not yet full.

Great interest was taken in -the. result of the refusal of the • watersiders to load meat, etc., into the Zealandic, and their replacement by free labor. About 80 men were at work to-day, there being contingents of farmers, farmers' sons (one farmer has four sons iri), sheepbuyers, drovers, and threshing mill hands — and the work went on not only as. well, but with greater speed than when^..ine7.W(ate]rsiders a^e at work. The public have no sympathy Avith this strike, and the farmers are deterniiried* to ; see it -through; A public meeting of all interested is proposed for Saturday to set up a com-,-.znittee.to enrol. and control. free workers. The Union S.S. Co's Pukaki came in to-day to discharge coal, and the unionists prepared to discharge her, but on railway truck men being sent to the wharf "who had been trucking at the Zealandic, the unionists, refused to work with them, and the stationmaster refusing to send other men; the watersiders knocked off. They, however, turned to again and discharged the coal into a hulk, where the railway men are not needed. Another Union S.S. Co. steadier was due to-morrow with merchandise and to load produce, and it being understood that she would not call, a telegram was sent to the manager at Dunedin, urging that she should, be sent, and- free labor be given a show to discharge arid load her. No reply baa been received yet, but it is thought' doubtful whether the company will comply for fear of complications ;hi^afcher2jW*f___!'.''* ~