ABRUPT CLOSING OF ABATTOIR

Southland Times, Issue 24650, 23 January 1942, Page 4

ABRUPT CLOSING OF ABATTOIR

AUCKLAND COUNCIL’S ACTION MOVE BY GOVERNMENT AWAITED (PA.) AUCKLAND, January 22. The abrupt closing down of the Auckland municipal abattoir at Westfield shortly before 11 a.m. today on account of labour troubles brought to a climax a long-standing dispute between the workers and the Auckland City Council, which controls the works, tn consequence of this action, which representatives of the council declared to be unavoidable, city and suburban butchers will have to rely on the freezing works for their supplies of ineat until some settlement is reached. The Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. J. G. Barclay, has authorized the butchers to draw supplies from the local freezing works. “The next move rests with the Government, which has been requested to declare an abattoir an essential industry under the National Service Emergency Regulations,” said Mr F. H. Ambler, convener of the Public. Health Committee of the City Council, when commenting on the situation tonight. “If that is done and the Government will provide the labour, the abattoir can resume operations. It is impossible to carry on under the prevailing conditions.” LABOUR PROBLEM

The difficulty of securing and holding adequate labour had caused concern to the management for many months, continued Mr Ambler. Men were leaving for higher paid jobs and those remaining at the abattoir had sought an increase in wages for labourers that could not be conceded by the council as the current award was only brought into operation in May last year. There was a shortage of labourers and the management’s suggestions for adjustments of staff had not been acceptable to the men. Matters came to a head on Wednesday, when the slaughtermen stopped killing at 2.30 p.m. Stock were left over for killing for the city trade, and it was'obvious that the output was being ■ restricted. “We decided this could not continue and we asked the men for an assurance that they would work normal hours,” stated Mr Ambler.

The workers held a stop-work meeting at 8 a.m. today, the union secretary, M- W. E. Sill, being present. They agreed to resume work unconditionally and operations were begun at 9 a.m. A number of labourers did not concur in the decision and seven left the works after giving an hour’s notice. The abattoir manager, Mr W. R. Rugg, advised the Mayor, Mr J. A. C. Allum, of the developments and orders were given for the cessation of killing. The slaughtermen departed, but the labourers continued for some hours in cleaning up.

The executive of the Auckland Master Butchers’ Association was advised of the position and met to consider proposals for maintaining the city’s supply of meat. At its suggestion the Mayor communicated ' with the Minister of Agriculture, whose instructions to draw supplies from the local freezing works were received in the afternoon. RESTRICTED SUPPLIES “Each butcher will be responsible for obtaining his own supplies from the various works,” stated Mr H. C. Bridges, president of the association. “There should not be any actual shortage, but it is doubtful if there will be enough fresh beef and mutton. Not a great deal of those meats are being killed at the freezing works at present. Housewives may not be able to enjoy their usual range of choice of meats.” There were large stocks of frozen meat available, added Mr Bridges, but New Zealanders were not partial to that class of meat, and it was not likely that supplies would be drawn by the butchers. Nothing had been decided about the killing of stock bought by butchers at Wednesday’s fat stock sale and held over through the closing of the abattoir. The stock had been turned out in neighbouring paddocks in the meantime. Some arrangements would probably have to be made to dispose of smaller calves being held. City firms under contract to supply meat for the armed forces were concerned when they learned the killing of stock bought for that purpose had ceased. “We have gone into the position and "supplies are ensured for immediate deliveries,” stated the representative of one contractor. However, should the abattoir remain closed the question of having stock killed at other establishments would have to be considered. The City Council had some responsibility as it was compulsory for butchers to have their meat handled through a municipal abattoir. When that avenue was closed it was obligatory on the controlling authorities to provide alternative facilities.