THE GAUNTLET DOWN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10685, 4 February 1913, Page 4

THE GAUNTLET DOWN.

FREEZING POMI'ANIKS CHALLENGE SLAUGHTERMEN. A CALL FOR. FREE LAwOtJll. WHAT IT POIITKNIJS. j The freezing companies luivo thrown ! down tho gauntlet to (he sluughreniien ] in tho form of a notice that they are j prepared to employ experts and J learners on tho terms agreed on at. the last Conference in Wellington. The notices of both tho Chrisichurch Moat Company and the Canterbury Frozen j Moat' Company in respect to their Islington and Belfast works have been published as an advertisement in tho following form;— "Tho company is willing to receive applications from expert slaughtermen and learners, to commence work at a date to bo hereafter specified. Priority of employment will bo given in the order of application. Rate, to bo 27s Gd per 100 sheep or lambs. Learners will bo guaranteed a minimum wage of Is 3d per hour until capable of eurniug more than that by piecework, .Full terms and conditions of employment can bo seen at tho works or at his office." Representatives of the company were approached yesterday for a statement of tho position, and they indicated that the advertisement covered the whole position, as far as they were concerned. Thoy could not say when tho works would bo opened, neither could they say whether a commencement was certain until they had had time to receive applications. Sir George Clifford, convener of the recont Conference of the companies in Wellington, said that the Canterbury works would start with free labour, but ho desired it to bo emphasised that there was no antagonism to the employment of union labour, and every opportunity would be offered to men who went on to tho slaughtering board to form a union registered under the Arbitration Act. Tho companies were not fighting unionism in the matter. THE MEN'S POSITION. Tho men readily concede that tho companies have thrown down the gauntlet by an appeal to non-union '.labour, or rather to what they describe as "scabs" and " wavercrs," since there is technically no union labour now that the Union has cancelled its registration. At the same time the old unionists are said to be standing solidly together, and the terms union and non-union are still employed. One man remarked that tho employers were depending oa " waverers " to break tho Union's strength, but they would not subdue the Union with anything but expert slaughtermen, and he was very doubtful whether any, would b© found offering their services. Certainly, he said, there was nothing to fear from Australian slaughtermen, for they were among the etaunchest unionists.

The slaughtermen, however, are comparatively inconsiderable in numbers when it is considered that GOO or 700 other men in Canterbury alone are rendered idle during the stoppage. Already nearly 600 men who will not participate in any increase which may be gained as the result of tho dispute have been paid off, and while they are in the great majority of cases loyal unionists there aro among them many who, either through necessity or improvidence, havo no financial reserves, and these men are" regarded as a weak link in the chain, apart from any " waverers'' there may be among the slaughtermen themselves It has not escaped the notice of the men fighting tho companies that they are menaced by the possible formation of what is known, as a "scab union." Such is alleged to have been the cause of the "Waihi trouble. It will be competent, since the old union's registration under tho Arbitration Act has been cancelled, for any fifteen men calling themselves slaughtermen to form a union registered under the Arbitration Act,'-and treat 'with the employers for an award, which would presumably be made on the 27s 6d basis. Thereupon this would become the statutory rate, and the men of the new union, and also the companies, could go on serenely so long as there were sufficient slaughtermen available. The men now demanding a 30s rate do not profess to predict what may happen in the next week or so. As far as can be gathered from the very guarded remarks they make on the situation they rely on the fact that the "learners" and others who will accept the companies' offer of 27s Gd will 'not be nearly sufficient to keep the works going, and that the companies. on the score of economy, will be compelled to pay the experienced hands what they are demanding. As one slaughterman remarked on perusing the companies' advertisement: "Like they did before; gave learners Is 3d an hour, It cost them 2s a sheep, and then the carcase was spoiled." 11l the event of another union being formed, it is considered probable that the slaughtermen now out _ will take sters to secure a controlling interest in it for their own protection. So far, however, no steps have been taken in the matter.

WHAT OTHEII UNIONS MAY DO. In the event of a struggle on tho Wailri scale brought about by the formation of a- union not representative of the great body of the slaughtermen, much would depend on the attitude of other trades unions, and prominent among them the transport workers. At present there is no certainty as to whether the transport workers would support the slaughtermen by refusing to handle the product of free labour at tlie freezing works, and the point is of considerable moment. It is stated that, in the event of anything like a protracted strike, the waterside workers would suffer, a 9 the loading of frozen meat employs as much labour as any other industry. These workers have not yet considered the point, but it is probable that the attitude of the transport workers will be ascertained by the slaughtermen in the course of a few days. ANOTHER PHASE.

There are innumerable phases of the situation, and one allegation is that the companies will not be embarrassed by a six weeks' stoppage, but, on the contrary, will welcome it. It is pointed out that to wipe off an accumulation of sheep, whenever the main body of slaughtermen resume, the companies will be working full boards, and that in consequence the cost of the work will be lessened. This is so, it is said, hecause the work can be carried on most economically when all the boards are manned and the works are turning out their full capacity, and especially so because the largo army of hands other than slaughtermen are expected to keep abreast of the killing rate. The slaughtermen would benefit, of course, for their daily tally might fig© from sixty or seventy to a hundred. 'union MEETING. A meeting of the Slaughtermen's Union was held last night at the Trades Hall, and there was an attendance of about sixty members. The proceedings were private, but at their conclusion the secretary, Mr C. Were, reported that there had been a largely attended meeting, including representatives from the Fairfield, Smithiield and Pareora branches. A motion bad been carried unanimously that a firm stand should be made for 30s a hundred. It was also reported that the majority of the men had obtained employment harvesting, nawying and so on, and intended to stay at their new work until the dispute

was ended. Further than this, none of tho officials would lyako any statement. THE ABATTOIR. CONDITIONS OF WORK. XEW AGREEMENT BiCTWEEX MEN AND COUNCIL. The Abattoir Committee reported u tho City Council last night ihar at ilu reouest' d ihe Canterbury Freezing

Works Bacon, Manure 'and Snap Employee;-,' Union a sub-committee had conferred with representatives of. th* Union regarding tlio new conditions of work and rates of pnv proposed by tho Union for the men employed as slaughtermen's assistants and labourers at the abattoir aim that the following agreement. had been arrived at, subject to Hits Council's approval:— The recognised hours of work_ shall bo from 8 a.in. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; from 7 a.m. 1 o 7 p.m. on Thursdays, and from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, except on the day preceding a holiday, when, work may continue until 7 p.m.", and on holidays an earlier start may be mutually arranged. Slaughtermen's assistants and labourers shall receive not loss than the following scale of wages: Under 17 years of age, AOs per week ; 17 to 18 years of age, 3f>s per .tvook; 18 to' 21 years of age, 51s per week, and over 2L years of ago, (iOs per week. All hours worked in excess of the hours mentioned shall bo considered overtime and shall be paid for at the rate of time and a halt; provided that 48 hours shall constitute a week's work and only time worked over 48 hours in a. week shall be paid for at overtime rates. The following shall bo holidays: New Year's Day, Gotxl Friday, Easter Monday, Sovereign's Birthday, Prince of Wales's Birthday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Labour Day, Show Day, Anniversary Day, and a picnic day to bo held on the Islington picnic day. No work to be done on the abovfi holidays nor Sundays, except that on Easter Monday, the Sovereign's Birthday, Prince of Wales's Birthday and Boxing Day employers shall be nt liberty to employ slaughtermen for a period not exceeding four hours on the above-mentioned holidays for the purpose of slaughtering stock for local consumption only; all such time worked on those days to be paid for at the rate of double time. Fifteen minutes in the morning and fifteen minutes in the afternoon to l>e allowed for "smoke-oil." If the slaughtermen's assistants or labourers are required to load before the hours specified above, such work to be paid format the rate of 2s 6d per hour, in additipn to the ordinary week's wages, such loading not to start > earlier than 5 a.m. No worker- under the age of IS years to do loading out before 7 a.m. 'Men for loading to be taken in rotation. As soon as slaughtering operations have ceased for the day, assistants to do only the necessary cleaning and washing down. When asked_ to do outside work after slaughtering operations have ceased, they shall be paid overtime rates, subject to the proviso that 48 hours shall constitute a week's work. Since the agreement the Union had asked that the last sentence of the last clause should be deleted, and that a new provision should be made " that assistants may bo employed for fifteen minutes previous to slaughtermen's operations commencing and for thirty minutes after they have ceased," but the conynittee could not see'its way to agree to that. The agreement contained a preference clause on the usual lines.

Tho report was adopted, and tho Mayor and £he town clerk were appointed to sign the agreement on behalf of the municipality.

OPINION OF MEAT FIRM'S REPRESENTATIVE. TROUBLE EXPECTED TO LAST TILL EASTER. HOME MARKET NOT AFFECTED. [FhOM OUP. CoitItKSrONDENT.] TIMARU, February 3. Seen by a reporter this morning, the local representative of a meat firm had something to say about the dispute. ."As far as I know," he stated, "the trade is of the opinion that the slaughtermen must give in sooner or later. The companies are satisfied that the offer of 27s 6d now made is the full value of the men's labour, and my firm is of the same opinion. We fully expect the trouble to last up till Easter, and perhaps after, but there is little likelihood of any killing being done here before that date." "We have been given to understand that the local works will advertise tomorrow for slaughtermen, offering 27s 6d per 100 to union or non-union men, but it is not considered probable that outside labour will be forthcoming. If the companies did man the boards with outside labour, is it likely that the assistants would work with them?"

Questioned as to the effect a long strike would bare on the Horn© market, ho said that beyond the loss of a year's working the market would not be affected to any extent. "New Zealand mutton and lamb," he said, " have gained too great a footing at Home to be in danger of losing the trade to Australia or the Argentine. These two countries are turning out frozen meat to their full capacity, so that they can do nothing more than supply their own contracts. The position at Home will be that the market will be minus the New Zealand product, and other countries will be unable to make up the shortage." " What will be the effect locally?" asked the reporter. "That," lie answered, "is a point that seems to have been overlooked. The coming crops are reported to be below the average, and if the .farmers cannot dispose of their fat stock tlie double loss will be felt by tradespeople. Added to this, the large amount of money paid in wages by the local companies will not be circulating, so the position is obvious." Questioned as to the prices likely to be obtained at Home for the stock shipped this season before the strike, he said: "Dealers fortunate enough to have frozen mutton to offer on the London market will secure record prices. There will be a rush for the small quantity of New Zealand meat going forward, and the owner can obtain his own price. This will ero a long way towards making up the loss at this end, even should the strike continue till Easter."

SLAUGHTERMEN PROTEST. DEPUTATION TO WAIT ON FREEZERS' UNION. [Per Press Association.] GISBORNE, February 3. A full meeting of slaughtermen tonight discussed the dispute in the new aspect of non-union labour at tlie Kaiti works, and decided to send a deputation to wait on the Freezers' Union, probably with the idea of asking them to come out in sympathy. TOKOMARU AND TARUHERU FACTORIES. WORK TO START SHORTLY. [Per Pees* Association-.] GISBORNE, February 3. At the Taruheru works an official announcement to the Press states that a board of eight or ten men is itead.v, and will probably start in a day or two. The Tokomaru Bay correspondent of the " Gisborne Times " states that the work is expected to be resumed there to-morrow with free labour, the board comprising probably not less than seven or eight men, principally station hands. Only about three Slaughtermen have left Tokomaru Bay, and the remainder (about fourteen) are expected to hang on for a week or two.

Rtockowners are not anticipating any difficulty in holding their stocks, but butchers are not inclined to quote until they see how the new men shape on the board. The quantity of stock coming forward will be regulated by tho number the men are able to put through.

NO APPLICATION FOR PLACES AT PAKIPAKI. LABO UR OFFER TNG AT TOMOANA. WORKS EXPECTED TO RE-OPEN OX WEDNESDAY. [Pi'.vi Phi Association.] M.ASTINCS. Ffbiijaiy M. 'I. ile- yvjiliotl ill !t'L' .n:- lilt? .slatlyu-

termen's strike, so far as it concerns the local works, is unchanged. Messrs Borthwick and Sons, Pakipaki, have not received, any applications for places on the killing-board, and the works are closed down in the meantime. . Applications for hooks at lomoana are coming in freely, and it is anticipated that the works will reopen on Wednesday morning with a full board. The rate of pay wdl be thy same as that offered tho men who ceased work, viz., 27s 6d per hundred. Should tho anticipations he realised, and slaughtering be resumed on Wednesday, tho necessity of dispensing witii the services of the hands in the other departments will bo obviated. Questioned .by a reporter, one of the strikers said that they had no intention of going back on their demamis, and would fight to tho bitter end. Referring to the proposal of the companies to man the hoards with free labour, the speaker said firms might be satisfied with their work, but he doubted if the farmers would put up with it for very long.