WELL MANNED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16200, 25 November 1926, Page 7

WELL MANNED

P.B. FREEZING WORKS 60 BUTCHERS KILLING To-day there were about 30 butchers on the boards at each of the P.B. works, and the progress shown by the novice hands was reported to be highly gratifying. The standard set by the union for an applicant for membership is a speed of eight sheep an hour and yesterday three men qualified at this rate, though they had only three days’ work ou the boards. The stalls of free labor now engaged at both works are able to handle all the slock forthcoming without trouble, and it is anticipated that when the heavy rush of fats sets in, there will be a sufficient number of free-labor butchers to deal with it, should the dispute still continue. There arc no indications as yet that tlic Poverty Bay free laborers will form a new union, though this move has been initiated in southern districts. Oil the other hand, should the dispute remain unsettled for any period, it is practically certain that the registered union will find itself bound to accept applications from butchers who have qualified under the free-labor conditions. The Poverty Bay freezing works opened early, in order to have the staffs fully trained before they were called upon to deal with the big rush of fats, and this policy lias had excellent results.

The quality of the stock sent forward to date is splendid, and the indications are that there will he an exceptionally heavy killing of fat lambs. Up to the present those killed have come from the farms on the Poverty Bay fiats, where lambs mature earlier than on the hill country, but on the flats and on the hills alike, the stock has done remarkably well during the spring.

WANT DISPUTE CALLED OFF FEILDING RECOMMENDATION (Per Press Association.) FEILDING, this day. A full meeting of the Feilding branch of the Freezing Workers’ Union last night passed l a motion by 46 votes to 2A : ‘'That this branch recommends Hawke’s Bay workers that the demand for an increase in wages at the present time is inopportune and that the strike be called off, this resolution to be referred to all branches throughout New Zealand.”

The local works opened this morning with voluntary' labor. It is understood that unionists will be prepared 1 to begin as soon as other branches have been notified.

WAIRARAPA WORKS START MASTERTON, last night. The Wairarapa Frozen Meat Co. commenced slaughtering operations this morning with 16 volunteer butchers. This number is sufficient for present requirements, but will be added to gradually from an extensive list of available volunteers. No laboring hands have yet been engaged. There was no- attempt at resistance by unionists.

CANTERBURY PREPARATIONS CHRISTCHURCH, last night. As the result of steps taken at a meeting to-day of representatives in Canterbury it is unlikely that tho freezing works in this provincial district will be caught napping in the event of slaughtermen in the .South Island deciding to follow the example of the men of the North Island. The following motions were adopted by tho meeting: “That this meeting of representatives of primary producers supports the attitudo of freezing companies in resisting the demands of the Freezing Workers’ Federation for an increase in rates of pay on the award now current; and that this meeting undertakes to use every effort to supply tho men necessary to carry on operations in the event of the union officials failing to do so.” It was stated that already there had been received substantial offers of assistance from country districts throughout Canterbury should the trouble extend to the South Island.